Album Notes

Rob's first Trio recording, Before You Go, presents a buoyant collection of timeless standards and two originals. The first track, “Heading Out”, is anthemic as it imagines possibilities. It begins as a march underneath a two chord vamp and then springs loose from a riff on Bach. This leads to an inspired take on “Endless Stars”, a superb composition by the eminent jazz pianist/composer, Fred Hersch. The other original tune, “Before You Go”, is an ode to a departed friend, beginning in minor and ending in major.

It was during college that Rob first heard recordings of Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett and Oscar Peterson, following high school years when the jazz-rock of Steely Dan, Weather Report, Chuck Mangione, and Traffic ruled the turntable. But it would be another 15 years before Rob actually began to study jazz. Over this span of time, vinyl has become ancient, compact discs are well into mid-life, and digital MP3's are fast becoming the norm.

For the past 10 years, Rob has appeared both as a solo pianist and with his trio at several southern Maine establishments (Black Point Inn, The Colony Hotel, Pier 77 Restaurant, Nonantum Resort, Stripers Restaurant) in addition to performing frequently in small combos. He now teaches piano at River Tree Center for the Arts, located in southern Maine, in addition to teaching at his home studio. Rob resides in Kennebunk with his wife, Penny, and their crooning beagle dog, "Maggie".