Album Notes

In his 30 years in music, Bobby Read has covered a lot of territory. A saxophone, woodwind and keyboard player with training from the New England Conservatory and a long-time performer, he has produced, engineered or played on more than 100 records. Early in his career, he was a member of the DC-based progressive rock band, However, and later joined the the eclectic 'chamber-folk' group Trapezoid. He played for many years at John D'earth's Thursday night jazz gig at Miller's in Charlottesville. He has produced and collaborated with numerous jazz, folk and rock musicians. Since 1993 he has recorded and toured as a member of the Bruce Hornsby Band. Bobby is on Hornsby's last four studio albums as well as the live 'Here Come the Noisemakers' cd, the recent 4 cd “Intersections 1985-2005” boxed set, and the “Three Nights on the Town” DVD. He wrote horn arrangements for two songs on Hornsby's most recent studio cd, 'Halcyon Days'.

With the CD “Simbia”, Bobby Read and the quartet take a fresh, unscripted approach to original material that draws from the great jazz and standards traditions. In these compositions the age-old craft of melody lives in a contemporary harmonic setting, performed with stellar musicianship and creative symbiosis. Recorded in Read’s studio, Small World Audio, the CD was completed in three sessions of mostly one or two takes per tune and the result really captures the birth of each of the 12 compositions.

Bobby is joined by Wells Hanley on piano, Curtis Fye on bass and Brian Caputo on drums.