Rob Garcia

For most of the past decade, drummer Rob Garcia has brought his superb skills and subtly dynamic rhythmic sense to an eclectic assortment of musical ensembles. Spanning the full spectrum of jazz, from Woody Allen's New Orleans band to the avant-garde explorations of such innovative artists as reedman Joseph Jarman and pianist Myra Melford, Rob has also brought his talents to band leaders and groups like The Howard Alden Trio, Wynton Marsalis, Sam Newsome and Global Unity, The Lynne Arriale Trio, John Benitez, The Lifetime Visions Orchestra, The John Bunch Trio, Randy Sandke, The Flying Neutrinos, Chris Cheek, David Ostwald's Louie Armstrong Centenial Band, The Manhattan Ragtime Orchesrta, Michael Ray and the Cosmic Crew, The Miri Ben-Ari Quartet, and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks. Rob has also performed with other top musicians such as: Jerome Richardson, Reggie Workman, Bob Berg, Dave Kikoski, Mike Formanek, Howard Johnson, Sonny Fortune, Bruce Barth, Santi Debriano, Wycliff Gordon, Warren Vache, Ted Nash, and Chris Potter, among others.

In addition to touring nationally and abroad, Rob has recorded with many artists, including Jarman and Allen. He has performed at clubs such as The Blue Note, Iridium, Knitting Factory, Cafe Carlyle, and Birdland. Some of the festivals he has participated in are the JVC jazz festival, the New York jazz festival, and the Vision festival.

As well as collaborating with other groups and artists, Rob Garcia is an inspired band leader in his own right. His talents as arranger and composer are evident on his album, Place of Resonance, released on Consolidated Artists Productions. The CD features Dave Kikoski on piano and Mike Formanek on bass as well as tenor saxophonist Matt Renzi, flautist Michel Gentile, and violinist Miri Ben-Ari. His latest project, Rob Garcia's “Sangha”, is about to release their debut recording called “Heart's Fire”.

Rob describes his creative aim and music's healing power, “music can go beyond the intellect and touch people on a very deep level.”

Such an understanding of music is the reward for a journey of exploration which began as Rob grew up in Pelham, New York, hearing jazz and popular music from the late 20's and early 30's. His father, an architect who also loved to play the bass, had a collection of 78's (old records) from that period, full of music greats such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Bix Beiderbecke.

In his early teens Rob loved classic rock and it was The Who's Keith Moon that inspired him to begin playing the drums. He began studying with Bob Mergliano, and through his influence as well as visiting New York City jazz clubs with his father, Rob's interest turned toward jazz. He then went on to study with some other outstanding teachers and performers such as Charli Persip, Steve Davis, and Adam Nussbaum.

At NYU, Rob majored in psychology, but continued to grow musically as well. In his early 20's he was drawn toward spirituality, began practicing yoga and attended Joseph Jarman's dojo in Brooklyn, for Zen meditation. Pursuing his interest in healing more deeply at the IM School of Healing Arts and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Rob developed a small practice as a holistic healer. The awareness which grew through the healing arts and spirituality has become part of his musical outlook. Rob explains, “I strive to integrate all the aspects of my being into everything I do.”