“Rob was one of the purest artists I had ever met.He lived for the music.His ability to pick up the changes to any tune almost instantly, and fit into any setting was uncanny.He had an ability to bring out the best in the musicians he worked with and has the ability to recognize what was good about each.He also respected the masters, and played with many of them. Ken Bleu Campbell is correct in categorizing Rob Block as one of the “New Millennium Jazz Lions”.I eagerly await the arrival of “East St. Louis Jazz from the Vault” and “Jazz Clone Tones” to add to my Rob Block collection”.Stan Zompakos, Brooklyn, New York.
After musical training and associate music teaching in Los Angeles, in 1978 Rob joined his brother Dan Block, also a musician, and his mother who had moved to New York ten Years earlier from St. Louis. On the New York jazz loft scene in the late 1970's and early 80's Rob, played at some of the "heaviest" sessions, including the Lower East Side's Studio Oui, Ladies Fort, Harlem's Baby Grand, and University of the Streets Club.
One of the most interesting elements during the early 1980’s New York jazz scene was that the best Musicians which migrated to New York played on the streets or in street bands. Street groups were the thing to do for “serious Jazz musicians”. Rob and other great jazz artist would quit their winter jobs to just play in street bands during the summer months.
As “street Jazz Bands” became popular and widespread several “street band rivalries” developed and Rob Block performed with both The Marvin Blackmon and Arturo O’Farrill street band quartets on 59th and Broadway. Several world renowned musicians and now recognized Jazz lions in the jazz music industry participated regularly during these street sessions, including the Kevin Burrell Jazz street quartet, Clarence Sharpe, Arthur Rhames, Pablo Collogero, Jimmy Vess, Manny Durand, Larry Smith, George Praithe, Reggie Workman, Curly Walker, Joe Caplo, and Rick Hollander.
Rob also recorded two demo CD’s with trumpet virtuoso Winton Marsalisalso during this period. The first demo was recorded before Winton became well known and had just graduated from the Julliard School of Music. The second demo was recorded a year later just as Winton began to be recognized internationally. Three original songs on those two demo sessions were written by Rob Block.
When the New York jazz loft scene was put out of business by the soaring rents of the 1980s, Rob moved to St. Louis. There he performed and recorded with Willie Akins, Richard "Groove" Holmes, and Charles Earland. He also toured as Charles Earland's guitarist after to his return to St. Louis. In between teaching and gigs, Rob also co-arranged the Steve KirbySeptets ,000 first prize winning songs in the Hennessy Cognac Midwest Best Search contest in 1992, including the arrangement of Theolonius Monk’s melancholy classic Crepuscules.
Other than his fine guitar work with Charles Earland and the demos done with Winton Marsalis, there has not been much studio and live recordings of his music documented on CD. Fortunately, for the pure jazz fan a fine compilation of Rob's artistic and composing abilities has, in a project entitled "Jazz Clone Tones". Over the years Rob Block has assembled outstanding musical entourages of nationally and internationally recognized jazz musicians including two-time Grammy-nominee
Russell Gunn and 1995 Best New-New York Jazz Musician Awardee, Greg Tardy, together with other gems, (Paul Demarinis, Kim Portnoy, Dan Eubanks, Dave Venn, Willie Akins, Emmanuel Harold, Jaimie Restrepo, Ken Bleu Campbell, and E. Alex Deal) for some remarkable jazz renditions and truly outstanding performances.
Jazz Clone Tones delivers a rare spontaneous, yet masterful interpretations of jazz and Latin jazz in this project of assembled Rob Block recordings over the past ten years. After listening to the music of Rob Block, you might also imagine that the “gene clones” of such legends as Wes Montgomery, the Soulful Strings, and other fine jazz guitarists and composers have somehow found its way into the soul of Rob Block.
Promoted by good friend and music associate Ken Bleu Campbell of East St. Louis, Illinois, under the project
Goodgroundrecords,"Jazz Clone Tones" delivers an easy listening perception into the versatility, depth of "jazz musicality," and composing talents of Rob Block. This Block compilation is sure to be listed as an appetizer or main course on the serendipitous jazz menu’s eternal buffet specials. Future projects by this musician are sure to be just as palatable.
Copyright 2002, Good Ground Records, East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis Jazz From the VaultSeries, Volume 1
The Award Winning Steve Kirby Septet Steve Kirby, Rob Block, Gary Sykes, Russell Gunn, Kim Portnoy, Ken Bleu Campbell, and Willie Akins
Some of the Earliest Professional Recordings of Now - New millennium Jazz Lions on this Good Ground Records CD feature Two time Grammy Nominee, East St. Lousian, Russell Gunn on Trumpet with Bass man Steve Kirby's Jazz Septet and the groups winning songs that won the ,000 First Prize in the 1992 Hennessey Cognac's Best Jazz Search Contest (See bio). With Willie Akins, Tenor Saxophone, Ken Bleu Campbell, Congas, Timbales, & Percussion, Rob Block, Guitar, Kim Portnoy,Piano, and Gary Sykes, Drums.
Also recorded live at the HistoricalMissouriBotanical Garden's First Annual Jazz in JuneSeries 1993, the Rob Block Latin Jazz Sextet Lay down some nice original Latin Jazz Song. The Personnel for this set include Russell Gunn, Willie Akins, Ken Bleu Campbell, 1997 New YorkBest New Jazz Artist nominee Gregory Tardy, Tenor Saxophone, with Jaime Restrepo, Bass, Keyboard, Alex "Bo" Deal, Congas, with Mattheo Mulcahy & Dan Fermin adding percussion.
Project also includes a never released song (East St. Awing) from the 1990 Russell Gunn Quintet with Greg Tardy, Lesmoisne Carlise, Jim Green, Rob Block, and Ken Bleu Campbell. Other Musicians include WebsterUniversity (St. Louis, Mo.) Music Instructors and musicians Paul DeMarinis,Kim Portnoy,Randy Smith, Dan Eubanks, Emmanuel & Kenyon Harold
Rob was one of the purest artists I had ever met.He lived for the music.His ability to pick up the changes to any tune almost instantly, and fit into any setting was uncanny.He had an ability to bring out the best in the musicians he worked with and to recognize what was good about each.He also respected the masters, and played with many of them. Stanley Zompakos, Brooklyn, New York
“Jazz Clone Tones”, accurately expresses the versatility, depth of "jazz musicality", and composing talents of Rob Block.As a result, Rob Block can be classified as a future Jazz Lion.This Block compilation is sure to be listed as an appetizer or main course on the serendipitous jazz menu’s eternal buffet specials.Future projects by this musician are sure to be just as palatable.
Recorded Live at The Historical
Sheldon Concert Hall, St. Louis, Mo.
FeaturesWebsterUniversity(St. Louis, Mo.) Music Instructors with Some of the St. Louis, East St. Louis Areas Best Musicians. Rob Block and Friends Recorded the CD Live at the Historical Sheldon Concert Hall in a Benefit for Tenor Saxophonist Willie Akins and Block's Farewell concert beforeMoving to New Orleans
CD Features Original Songs by Rob Block on Guitar and Piano with Paul DeMarinis, Kim Portnoy, Dan Eubanks,Dave Venn,Randy Holmes, Ken Bleu Campbell, Kenyon and Emmanuel Harold, and other guests...If you enjoy Wes Montgomery, Gene Ammons, the Soulful Strings, and Jazz Mambo,you’ll Love this CD Available by Mail Order From Good Ground Records Sixteen Dollars
