Rob Garcia Quintet

Hailed as "a prime mover in the current Brooklyn jazz scene" (Time Out New York) and "one of New York's great jazz drummers and composers" (Capital New York), Rob Garcia has established himself as a vital force in contemporary jazz. As both sideman and bandleader, he brings deep musicality and creative vision to every project. Rob has collaborated with an impressive range of artists, including Joe Lovano, Sheila Jordan, Dave Liebman, David Byrne, Wynton Marsalis, the Kronos Quartet, Diana Krall, Myra Melford, Joseph Jarman, Catherine Russell, Kris Davis, Nicole Zuraitis, Anat Cohen, Vince Giordano, Reggie Workman, Wycliffe Gordon, and Ghost Train Orchestra. Garcia has appeared on more than 75 recordings—including Grammy-winning albums—and has toured worldwide.As a bandleader and co-leader, Rob has released 14 critically acclaimed albums featuring luminaries such as Joe Lovano, Noah Preminger, Kate McGarry, Leo Genovese, Dan Tepfer, Gary Versace, and Mike Formanek. His work has earned consistent recognition from DownBeat, The New York Times, JazzTimes, and Time Out New York, with multiple albums landing on year-end "best of" lists. Recent releases include Natural Bounce (2023) and Illumination (2020) on Fresh Sound Records. His 2018 solo drum set album Drum Solos For Dancers Only showcases his inventive approach to rhythm and improvisation.Rob's groups have performed at premier venues and festivals including the Ottawa, Toronto, and Kingston Jazz Festivals, Birdland, Iridium, Smalls, and Firehouse 12. His work has been supported by grants from South Arts, Meet The Composer, DCA, and NYSCA. He is a member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop.Beyond performing, Rob is a committed advocate for artist-run jazz organizations. He founded and co-directs Connection Works (501c3) and is a member of the Brooklyn Jazz Underground, helping to build sustainable pathways for jazz to flourish in the 21st century. <br /><br />This artist does not have a bio yet. <br /><br />Of Brooklyn-based saxophonist Noah Preminger, The New York Times declares: “Mr. Preminger designs a different kind of sound for each note, an individual destiny and story.” Preminger, just 29, has recorded numerous critically acclaimed albums and is steadily listed as one of the best tenor saxophonists by critics and readers on the annual Downbeat Poll. Three new recordings are expected by early 2016, including an all-ballads date on the French vinyl label, Newvelle Records, and live recordings from the 55 Bar and Smalls Jazz Club in NYC. <br><br>Born in 1986, Preminger grew up in Canton, Connecticut. Preminger released his debut album, Dry Bridge Road, just after his 21st birthday and was named Debut of the Year in the Village Voice Critics Poll. Preminger’s second and third albums as a leader came in 2011 and 2013 while signed to the Palmetto Records label. The Boston Globe says Preminger’s music is “… impressive, challenging, and beautiful.” The saxophonist has performed on key stages from the United States to Europe and Australia, and he has played and/or recorded with the likes of Billy Hart, Dave Holland, John Patitucci, Fred Hersch, Dave Douglas, Rudy Royston, Rob Garcia, Joe Lovano, Victor Lewis, John and Bucky Pizzarelli, Billy Drummond, George Cables, Roscoe Mitchell, and Dr. Eddie Henderson. <br><br>www.noahpreminger.com <br /><br />Since basing himself in New York City in June of 2002, jazz organist, pianist, and accordionist Gary Versace has quickly become one of the busiest and most versatile musicians on the scene, often featured in bands led by musicians such as John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Maria Schneider, Matt Wilson, Lee Konitz, Eliot Zigmund, Scott Wendholt, Joe Magnarelli, Danny Gottlieb, Seamus Blake, John Hollenbeck, Andy LaVerne, Adam Nussbaum, Brad Shepik, Ingrid Jensen, Tim Ries and many others. <br>Versace was voted a "rising star" on the Hammond organ in the last three Downbeat critics polls, and was the subject of a feature article in the July 2004 issue of Keyboard magazine. <br>Versace has been a featured soloist on several critically acclaimed recordings of recent years: accordionist on Maria Schneider's Grammy-winning recordings "Concert in the Garden" and "Sky Blue" and as the pianist on John Hollenbeck's Grammy-nominated large ensemble recording, "A Blessing." <br>Over the past five years, Versace has appeared as a leader for the Criss Cross and SteepleChase labels, and as a sideman on over 50 recordings with artists on various labels including Palmetto, ACT, Omnitone, Songlines, Pirouet, High Note, Justin Time, ArtistShare, Fresh Sound, Kind of Blue, and many others. <br>As a pianist, Versace performed in a two-piano recital with Marian McPartland, and in April of 1999 appeared on her acclaimed National Public Radio program, "Piano Jazz." McPartland has called him "...endlessly inventive...(Versace) really has an extraordinary talent." <br>Gary Versace has a masters degree in music performance from the Eastman School of Music, and spent eight years as a tenured associate professor in the jazz studies department at the University of Oregon. He remains active as a clinician and guest soloist both nationally and around the world. <br>Weblinks: <br>www.garyversace.com <br /><br />This artist does not have a bio yet.