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Take Five With...
Take Five With Bob Ross
Meet Bob Ross:
My career in music began when I was 11 years old. I started playing trumpet and continued for seven years. I began playing guitar at 14, and have been playing for 10 years. I graduated Morehead State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Music and am currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Jazz Studies at The University Of The Arts in Philadelphia PA.
Not only am I a performing musician, but I am also open to giving lessons. I have spent years figuring out this thing called a guitar, and I know the frustrations that come about, but I also know the amount of discipline it takes and the love you must have for music. I am using this site to help get my music out there. I greatly appreciate all supporters.
Instrument(s):
Guitar.
Teachers and/or influences?
Jimmy Bruno
Jimmy Bruno
b.1953
guitar
, Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth
b.1948
guitar
, Jerry Bergonzi
Jerry Bergonzi
b.1947
saxophone
, Sonny Rollins
Sonny Rollins
b.1930
saxophone
, John Coltrane
John Coltrane
1926 - 1967
saxophone
, Jonathan Kreisberg
Jonathan Kreisberg
b.1972
guitar
, Ben Monder
Ben Monder
guitar
and John Abercrombie
John Abercrombie
b.1944
guitar
.
I knew I wanted to be a musician when...
I started to learn songs by Metallica and Megadeth.
Your sound and approach to music:
My sound and approach follows along with the modern jazz artists today. I did have a background in playing heavy metal, so I do feel that it has had an effect on my sound.
Your teaching approach:
I tell my students to "Play the music, not the instrument."
Your dream band:
I have been working with a quartet recently—guitar, sax, bass, and drums. I am very content with this setup. I would, however, like to experiment more with trio (guitar, bass, drums) and duet (guitar and bass or sax) settings.
Favorite venue:
I don't have a particular venue that is my favorite, although, I would say that I prefer a small club as opposed to a larger venue.
The first Jazz album I bought was:
Kind Of Blue, by Miles Davis
Miles Davis
1926 - 1991
trumpet
.
CDs you are listening to now:
Jerry Bergonzi, Tenorist;
Sonny Rollins, The Bridge;
David Berkman, Communication Theory.
Desert Island picks:
Jimmy Bruno, Burnin;
Ben Monder, Oceana;
Allan Holdsworth, The Sixteen Men Of Tain.
How would you describe the state of jazz today?
Jazz is continuously moving forward, but I would say that the label does not describe this ever flowing and ebbing style of music. We need to stop trying to put these limiting labels on the music. I do feel that the music is almost becoming too academic, therefore losing the passion it once proclaimed. Both technically and harmonically, the music is continuing to push forward.
What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing?
Keep jazz in the schools in order to make people aware of its presence, raise more funds to support the venues, and support CD sales.
What is in the near future?
I will be teaching and gigging in Cincinnati.
If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a:
Writer.
