Bob Gallo
Guitarist/Composer
For close to 10 years, Jazz Guitarist/Composer Bob Gallo's playing could be heard world-wide in the incidental and theme song music in episodes of the popular and now syndicated number one television show of the late 80's and early 90's The Cosby Show and It's A Different World. For 5 years, Bob Gallo was the featured acoustic guitarist who accompanied popular recording legend Aretha Franklin on the theme song of It's A Different World weeknights on NBC. Following his work for NBC, he could be heard weekly on the popular Fox 5 Network series Living Single. Currently, he can be heard world-wide on syndicated episodes of all three shows for which he composed, performed and acted as Assistant to the Musical Director. In 1999 Bob Gallo began working on the popular animated Cosby series for Nickelodeon and CBS entitled Little Bill, also released on Paramount Home Video and DVD, for which he currently composes, arranges and performs. The soundtrack features Bob playing jazz guitar in a quartet setting behind voice-overs of such well-know actors as Phylicia Rashad, the late Madeline Kahn and Gregory Hines, Rosie Perez and Bill Cosby. An active studio musician, Gallo has recorded with singer Denise Williams on her Grammy Award-winning CD This Is My Song.
Bob Gallo is considered by many to be one of today's foremost accomplished, guitarist/composers. He is known to have played along side of such talents as Michael and Randy Brecker, George Whittey, Gerald Albright, Grover Washington, Jr., John Lewis, Clark Terry, Dave Valentin, Jon Faddis, and Bill Cosby. In May 2005, Bob Gallo released an original jazz cd in New York City entitled "Wake-Up Call" which features world-class musicians Bassist Boris Kozlov and Trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, Pianist Misha Tsiganov, and Drummer Gene Jackson.
Bob Gallo endorses Gibson Guitars, Buscarino Archtop Guitars and Di Carlo Guitars.
Reviews
"If you mix excellence in technique and composition, toss in a handful of creativity, and stir it up with imagination and energy you have begun to describe the Bob Gallo Group. From the very first number, there is no question, this is Be-Bop at its guitar best. The songs are well-written and the performance rates outstanding, in my never to be humble opinion. Yes, this record is hot. Here are a group of gentlemen who have captured the essence of Jazz. They have all the musical charisma and professionalism one would expect to here on a major record label..." De Dee McNeil - Cadence Magazine
"Gallo is a jazz guitarist of considerable skill.His technical ability is stunning, And he never runs out of ideas. Gallo's tone matches his playing. It's the classic big box feel you would expect from a player who obviously learned from the masters in jazz guitar history..." Vintage Guitar Magazine
"The disc features eight very well written original tunes that all hailout of a modern and standard repertoire. The tunes fall in that classic Blue Note era sound. Gallo is not only a skilled composer but a fantastic guitarist as well. He has the chops of players like Metheny..." Eric Elias - Just Jazz Guitar Magazine
"Bob Gallo is certainly a diamond in the rough. I've not had a modern jazz recording hit me this hard in quite some time..."Cliff Cultreri-www.destroyallguitars.com
"Bob Gallo is one of the great unknown secrets in the world of jazz guitar. Long before it was popular, Bob was exploring the outer edges of jazz guitar language, extending boundaries and shaking up some better known guitrartists like myself! With impeccable technique, a warm tone and a masterful touch, Bob navigates a beautiful selection of tunes on this cd. Guitarists will include this cd as part of their jazz guitar education and be blown away, jazz fans will discover a rich new source of great music that will have them anxious for the next cd. I know I am!..." Rodney Jones
"Active in New York studios for some years, Bob Gallo is a very good guitarist whose name deserves to be much better known. If this CD comes your way you will understand why he is held in such high regard by his peers. A light and accurate touch, flowing ideas and subtle swing ... Well worth hearing..." Bruce Crowthers
"...blazing jazz runs and solos on the Bob Gallo Quintet's CD, Wake-Up Call. And that's an appropriate title as well, if not an understatement. While your overtaxed neural network takes a breather, you'll have time to appreciate the amazing musicianship found on the CD,... Gallo is considered by many to be one of today's foremost accomplished, guitarist/composers, and Wake-Up Call can be considered an essential introduction to this amazing musician...." Guitar Nine Records
Wake-Up Call is certainly a well-chosen title for this first recording of Bob Gallo, a highly respected jazz guitarist. Gallo not only proves to be a wizard on his instrument, he also introduces eight of his own compositions, works which not only allow Gallo to demonstrate his proficiency on the guitar, but also gives the members of this skilled quintet ample space to share their own gifts. ...." Grady Harp
"This is a solid album that allows us to appreciate the guitar as a jazz instrument, but more importantly, opens the gateway to a new composer of amazing talent. It is indeed a wake-up call!"..... Grady Harp,
[Title Track]"Wake-Up Call is gem done in an up tempo mode. Gallo gallops
again and piano man Misha Tsiganov matches Gallo's facility, showing
more chops than Schwartz's meat market..."This is a record that is more than interesting, it is musicianship at it's finest by all the players...." John Gilbert/ EJazz
"Gallo starts out strongly on the fast-bopping title tune, "Wake Up Call," as well as "Calculated Risk," in which he trades lines with Alex Sipiagin's trumpet and Misha Tsaiganov's piano, showing no mercy ...." Michael P Gladstone
"Stick with strings and the vibrations of talent flowing forth will excite as in the case of The Bob Gallo Quintet with Wake-Up Call'...Karl Stober/Clef Notes
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