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Bobby Floyd
Floyd has toured and performed extensively with Ray Charles, Rusty Bryant, Jeff Tyzik, Chris Howes, Byron Stripling, Sarah Morrow and his own trio. His current touring schedule includes performances as featured soloist with orchestras throughout the USA and Canada, including the Rochester Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Detroit Symphony, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, and many others. Floyd is also a frequent soloist with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra where his soulful sound has backed artist such as Chuck Mangione, Houston Person, Branford Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Mavis Staples, Gerald Wilson, Wycliffe Gordon, John Clayton and countless others. His recent performances in Europe and Japan have garnered high praise and he continues to accompany the top jazz, blues and gospel artist in the country.
Bobby has completed three recordings: Interpretations, Setting the Standards, and Floyd’s Finest Gift. His next project, soon to be released, is a live performance recorded in Spain. Other accomplishments include recording and composing on several of Vince Andrews’ and Chris Howes’ projects. He has also recorded with Gerald Levert (Groove On) and Faye Robinson (Remembering Marian Anderson). Additionally, he is featured on a Rusty Bryant album, Rusty Rides Again, which received five stars in Downbeat magazine.
Floyd has taught at The Ohio State University, his own private studio and the world famous Jamey Aebersold Jazz Workshops. His critically acclaimed CD’s Interpretations, Setting the Standards, Floyd’s Finest Gift, and Notes to and from My Friends demonstrate his ability to electrify audiences and have received the highest praise from critics and musicians alike.
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Rich Thompson: Who Do You Have to Know?
by Jack Bowers
Veteran drummer Rich Thompson ushers a lithe and swinging quartet through its paces on his latest album, Who Do You Have to Know? (the answer to which, alas, is not forthcoming). This is basically late-night jazz, the kind often reserved for after-hours jam sessions whose participants are fully engaged in the task at hand and hold nothing back. On this studio session, Thompson's able co-partners are guitarist Corey Christiansen, pianist/organist Bobby Floyd and bassist Peter Chwazik. As ...
Continue ReadingRich Thompson: Who Do You Have to Know?
by Dan McClenaghan
The title of drummer Rich Thompson's 2023 release is Who Do You Have To Know?. The answer to that: John Bishop and Matt Jorgensen, the team that runs the Origin and OA2 Records labels that boast prolific and consistently good outputs, featuring an array of well-known and a goodly number of not-so-well-known, but always interesting, often terrific, jazz artists. Thompson has released four albums of his own on Origin, including the first-rate, Triocity: I Believe In You (2016), featuring bassist ...
Continue ReadingRich Willey Boptism Funk Band: Conspiracy
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Both before and after his first terrific recording as leader--Gone with the Piggies (Consolidated Artists Productions, 1988)--Asheville, North Carolina-based Rich Willey has been a very busy jazzman. During that period, Willey spent dues-playing time with Philly Phenoms, New York Bopsters, did a stint with the great Maynard Ferguson, authored dozens of well-acclaimed trumpet and jazz improv books, wrote scores of original tunes, taught and, in his spare time, performed locally. However, within the last year he has released two outstanding ...
Continue ReadingChristian Howes: Out of the Blue
by Ian Patterson
The violin is widely considered as the most expressive of instruments, closely approximating the human voice. It depends, however, to a large degree, on whose hands the instrument is in. Christian Howes is that rare breed of musician who makes the violin talk; using the idiom of the blues on Out of the Blue, Howes gives a virtuoso performance, as full of emotion as it is technically dazzling. Joined by guitarist Robben Ford , who lends his jazz-inflected accent to ...
Continue ReadingPete Mills: Art and Architecture
by Jerry D'Souza
If there is one defining aspect about Pete Mills, it is his ability to pave a path that is in direct communication with his listeners. Though he often shows a big, brawny disposition, he never overplays his hand. And while there is turmoil and a roiling heat as he takes the high post-bop road, he also showcases a softer side with ballads that shimmer and glow in the emotional nest he builds for them.
Mills plays surprise to ...
Continue ReadingPete Mills: Art and Architecture
by Jim Santella
Straight-ahead jazz combines pleasant memories with fresh energy when it's created by a unit such as Pete Mills' quintet. His lovely tenor saxophone tone soothes while it cascades around the room. The session remains peaceful and quiet throughout. Mills stretches out on up-tempo romps and lays back casually for lyrical ballads.
With the pared-down backing of just bass and drums, he delivers “In Walked Bud" with a bounce. Careful to keep the tempo in the moderate range, he ...
Continue ReadingPete Mills: Art and Architecture
by Dan McClenaghan
It's nice to hear a mainstream set hit the ground running like this. Saxophonist Pete Mills opens his Art and Architecture with the frictionless propulsion of “Dot Com," a tune that zips forward on the rhythm section momentum of a sleek monorail riding a cushion of magnetism, on a workout that lets you know that straight ahead jazz is alive and well, juiced up even, in the hands of a younger generation.This is only Mills' second CD as ...
Continue Reading"Swingin' The New Year" With Columbus Jazz Orchestra All-Stars Byron Stripling, Bobby Floyd & Special Guest Jamey Aebersold
Source:
Scott Vezdos
Columbus, OH – The Jazz Arts Group’s Inside Track series continues its 2013-14 season at the historic Lincoln Theatre with Columbus Jazz Orchestra all-stars Byron Stripling and Bobby Floyd in “Swingin’ the New Year” on Saturday, December 28. Byron and Bobby lead a small group with a celebration that is sure to beat the post-holiday blues and make you sing and dance! Special guests Jamey Aebersold, Larry Cook and Rich Thompson hit the stage with a Jazz Academy workshop ensemble ...
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Jazz Arts Group's Inside Track Series Continues With CJO All-stars Byron Stripling & Bobby Floyd
Source:
Scott Vezdos
Columbus, OH – The Jazz Arts Group's Inside Track series continues its 2012-13 season at the historic Lincoln Theatre with Columbus Jazz Orchestra all-stars Byron Stripling and Bobby Floyd in “Swingin' the New Year" on Friday, December 28. Byron and Bobby lead a small group with a celebration that is sure to beat the post-holiday blues and make you sing and dance! Special guests Larry Cook and Rich Thompson hit the stage with a Jazz Academy workshop ensemble that could ...
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Jazz Arts Group Opens 2010-11 Inside Track Season with Nia Allen, Byron Stripling, Bobby Floyd and "The Gospel According to Swing"
Source:
Michael Ricci
The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) is ready to return to the stage of the Lincoln Theatre with another stellar season of its Inside Track series. Kicking off the series on Saturday, December 18, Columbus Jazz Orchestra's Artistic Director Byron Stripling leads a gospel-themed show titled “The Gospel According to Swing," featuring the soulful voice of Nia Allen and the keyboard wizardry of Bobby Floyd. The daughter of Milton and Merlyn Ruffin, Nia Allen grew up in a strong ...
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Who Do You Have to Know?
From: Who Do You Have to Know?By Bobby Floyd
Bobby's Bad
From: Out Of The BlueBy Bobby Floyd
