Born in 1948 in Toronto, at 14 Bob was handed a baritone saxophone, his first musical instrument, in high school. Within days, his artistic vision was born
'to make music and be heard.'
Bob is 'The Senator' of Globe & Mail jazz critic Mark Miller’s book 'Boogie, Pete, and The Senator' - published by Nightwood Editions in 1987.
Studies: woodwind performance, harmony, and arranging with Paul Brodie and Gordon Delamont mid to late 1960s. Followed into the mid-seventies by private flute lessons. In 1990, Bob obtained a Canada Council Arts B Grant for composition and over that year he wrote several compositions which have since been recorded. In 2001, he was invited to a short-term residency in jazz performance at the Banff Centre For the Arts.
Performer: Bob is best known as a tenorman who’s appeared over the years with various rock, jazz, and classical artists and has recorded as a sideman on many recordings including 2 Juno-nominated CDs with 'Time Warp' during the 1980’s. More recently recorded examples of particular note are his solo and ensemble performances on tenor saxophone on Richard Underhill’s 2003 Juno-award winning CD 'tales from the blue lounge.'
Composer/Arranger/Bandleader/Producer: November 2003, Bob produced and released his debut instrumental CD 'A Decade Of Favorites.' Its best charting achievement was at #1 on the National Canadian campus jazz charts 'ChartAttack' and ‘Earshot.’ May 2005, he released a vocal CD 'Like A Spring Day' featuring 9 of his own compositions with lyrics written by Sonja Tran and sung by Carol McCartney. Best charting achievement was #1 on the National Canadian campus jazz charts 'ChartAttack' and ‘Earshot.’ November 2008, will see the release of another instrumental CD ‘Time Away’ featuring 7 of his compositions plus 1 composition by Adrean Farrugia. All performed with sidemen Adrean Farrugia on piano, Artie Roth on bass, and Terry Clarke on drums.
…60 years later, Bob’s original artistic vision, 'to make music and be heard,' continues.