rob garcia - bio
drummer • composer • bandleader • educator
Hailed as "a prime mover in the current Brooklyn jazz scene" (Time Out New York) and "one of New York's great jazz drummers and composers" (Capital New York), Rob Garcia has established himself as a vital force in contemporary jazz. As both sideman and bandleader, he brings deep musicality and creative vision to every project. Rob has collaborated with an impressive range of artists, including Joe Lovano, Sheila Jordan, Dave Liebman, David Byrne, Wynton Marsalis, the Kronos Quartet, Diana Krall, Myra Melford, Joseph Jarman, Catherine Russell, Kris Davis, Nicole Zuraitis, Anat Cohen, Vince Giordano, Reggie Workman, Wycliffe Gordon, and Ghost Train Orchestra. Garcia has appeared on more than 75 recordings—including Grammy-winning albums—and has toured worldwide.
As a bandleader and co-leader, Rob has released 14 critically acclaimed albums featuring luminaries such as Joe Lovano, Noah Preminger, Kate McGarry, Leo Genovese, Dan Tepfer, Gary Versace, and Mike Formanek. His work has earned consistent recognition from DownBeat, The New York Times, JazzTimes, and Time Out New York, with multiple albums landing on year-end "best of" lists. Recent releases include Natural Bounce (2023) and Illumination (2020) on Fresh Sound Records. His 2018 solo drum set album Drum Solos For Dancers Only showcases his inventive approach to rhythm and improvisation.
Rob's groups have performed at premier venues and festivals including the Ottawa, Toronto, and Kingston Jazz Festivals, Birdland, Iridium, Smalls, and Firehouse 12. His work has been supported by grants from South Arts, Meet The Composer, DCA, and NYSCA. He is a member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop.
Beyond performing, Rob is a committed advocate for artist-run jazz organizations. He founded and co-directs Connection Works (501c3) and is a member of the Brooklyn Jazz Underground, helping to build sustainable pathways for jazz to flourish in the 21st century.
More background:
Rob grew up in Pelham, New York, hearing a lot of jazz from the 1920's and 30's. His father had a collection of 78rpm records which included Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Bix Beiderbecke. In his early teens, Rob loved classic rock. It was Keith Moon of The Who that inspired him to begin playing the drums. He began studying with Bob Merigliano, and through his influence as well as visiting New York City jazz clubs with his father, Rob's interest turned toward jazz. He then went on to study with some other outstanding drummers such as Charli Persip, Steve Davis, and Adam Nussbaum. Rob holds a BA from NYU and a MM from SUNY Purchase.
In addition, Rob has also studied and practiced holistic healing. He graduated from the IM School of Healing Arts, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and is a non-denominational ordained minister.
PRESS QUOTES
“…one of New York’s great jazz drummers and composers.” - Capital New York
“Thoughtful original music delivered with rare conviction.” - Jazz Times
“Garcia is a drummer of invention, grace and considerable fire.” - Downbeat
“…an elastic, adventurous statement from the drummer Rob Garcia." - New York Times
"like all great frontmen he puts the music first, not his instrument. And like fellow drummer/leaders Bill Stewart and Jack DeJohnette, Garcia always serves the music, but with that extra inner sparkle and finesse coupled to crackerjack time sensibilities that are constantly delightful."
-NYC Jazz Record
“remarkable drummer” - Village Voice
“A prime mover in the current Brooklyn jazz scene…” - Time Out-New York
"There are drummers who keep time and there are drummers who make you listen, whose shifting rhythms, exhilarating time feel and inventiveness make the music dance. Rob Garcia is one such drummer…"
-NYC Jazz Record
“remarkable chemistry” - Jazz Times
"…this is a true band and a collective sense of one-ness is heard" -NYC Jazz Record
"Drummer, composer, bandleader and in-demand sideman Rob Garcia is one of the shining stars at Brooklyn Underground Jazz Records" -Something Else Reviews
"Foxy!" - Jazz Weekly
"The 10 Best Jazz Albums of 2009" - New York Observer. (Perennial - Rob Garcia 4)
"refreshingly untrendy" - Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen
“If the excellent debut Perennial moved the Rob Garcia 4 among the vanguard of modern jazz, The Drop and the Ocean has solidified its place.” - NYC Jazz Record
“Creativity that is off the chart!” - JazzReview.com
“the Rob Garcia 4 is most definitely the truth.” - Nippertown
Rob Garcia Discography
As a Bandleader:
Natural Bounce - Rob Garcia 4
2023 - Fresh Sound Records; FSR 5128
Illumination - Rob Garcia featuring Noah Preminger, John O’Gallagher and Marcos Varela
2020 - Fresh Sound Records; FSNT-608
Drum Solos For Dancers Only - Rob Garcia
2018 - Connection Works Records; CWR 103
Soapbox - Rob Garcia
2017 - Released on Soundcloud only
https://soundcloud.com/robgarciamusic/sets/rob-garcias-soapbox
Finding Love In An Oligarchy On A Dying Planet - Rob Garcia
2016 - Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records; BJUR 058
The Passion Of Color - Rob Garcia 4
2014 - Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records; BJUR 043
The Drop and the Ocean - Rob Garcia 4
2011 - Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records; BJUR 028
Perennial - Rob Garcia 4
2009 - Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records; BJUR 012
Heart’s Fire - Rob Garcia’s Sangha
2007 - Connection Works Records; CWR 101
Place of Resonance - Rob Garcia
2001 - Consolidated Artists Productions; CAP 950
As a co-leader/collective:
Scouring for the Elements - Michel Gentile, Daniel Kelly, Rob Garcia (WORKS)
2024 - Connection Works Records; CWR 106
Hildegard Project - Noah Preminger/Rob Garcia
2024 - Connection Works Records; CWR 105
Chopin Project - Noah Preminger/Rob Garcia (Dead Composers Club)
2018 - Connection Works Records; CWR 104
Background Music - Noah Preminger, Masa Kamaguchi, Rob Garcia
2014 - Fresh Sound Records; FSNT 430
Seven by Seven - Brooklyn Jazz Underground
2014 - Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records; BJUR 046
WORKS - Michel Gentile, Daniel Kelly, Rob Garcia
2013 - Connection Works Records; CWR 102
A Portrait Of Brooklyn - Brooklyn Jazz Underground
2012 - Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records; BJUR 035
Tall Grass - The New Jazz Quartet (Nicki Denner, Anton Denner, Jennifer Vincent, Rob Garcia)
2009 - self released
Mr Kite (playing the music of The Beatles in fresh new ways)
2004 - released only on Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/robgarciamusic/sets/mr-kite
As a side-person:
Who Is The Sky - David Byrne with Ghost Train Orchestra
2025 - Matador Records
Three Chord Monte - Tony Romano
2024 - self-released
Night City - Neal Kirkwood Big Band
2024 - Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records
Daughter of Fortune - Lily White Quintet
2023 - self-released
Songs and Symphoniques: The Music of Moondog - Ghost Train Orchestra
2023 - Cantaloupe Music
Super Natural History - Charming Disaster
2022 - self-released
Hello Cruel World - Nick Balaban
2021 - Distinguished Records
I Love Being Here with You - Cait and the Critters (Cait Jones)
2021 - self-released
Daikon Pizza - Tetsuro Hoshii’s The Doggy Cats
2019 - self-released
A Night At The Movies - Svetlana Shmulyian
2019 - self-released
Just Cross The River - Dennis Lichtman
2018 - Triple Treble Music; TTM-CD 007
16 Tons - Andy Biskin
2018 - Andorfin Records; ANDRF 007
Ruminations - Tomas Rodriguez
2017 - Wishing Stone Music;
Book Of Rhapsodies, Vol. 2 - Ghost Train Orchestra
2017 - Accurate Records;
A Night At the Speakeasy - Svetlana and the Delancey Five
2016 - OA2 Records; OA2 22126
Fleischerei - Gary Lucas
2016 - Cuneiform Records; RUNE 405
Hot Town - Ghost Train Orchestra
2015 - Accurate Records;
Voyages - Myriam Phiro
2015 - Myriam Phiro (888295295543)
Let Me Play For You - Walt Procanyn Orchestra
2015 - self-released
Merry Christmas - Walt Procanyn Orchestra
2015 - self-released
Boardwalk Empire, Vol 3 - Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
2014 - Electra/HBO 8264-2
Get Moving - Biagio Coppa
2014 - No Flight Records; NFR S06
Big Band and Polka Magic - Walt Procanyn Orchestra
2014 - self-released
Merry Christmas Darling - Grace Haggerty
2014 - Grace Haggerty (888295196321)
Boardwalk Empire, Vol 2 - Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
2013 - Electra/HBO 8985-2
Infinite Possibility - Joel Harrison 19
2013 - Sunnyside Records; 1366
Book Of Rhapsodies - Ghost Train Orchestra
2013 - Accurate Records
Professor Cunningham And His Old School - Professor Cunningham And His Old School
2013 - self released
Better Than This - Kotorino
2013 - Klip Klap Music; Kotorino (888174164151)
Music Speaks - Walt Procanyn Orchestra
2013 - self-released
New York Trio Vol. 1 - Takeshi Asai
2013 - De Trios Cités Records
Wild Swan - Joanna Wallfisch
2012 - self-released
Dreams May Take You - Emily Asher
2012 - self-released
Boardwalk Empire - Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
2011 - Electra/HBO 528266-2
Hot House Stomp - Ghost Train Orchestra
2011 - Accurate Records
A World Of Music - Walt Procanyn Orchestra
2011 - self-released
Inside This Heart Of Mine - Catherine Russell
2010 - World Village 468092
Let’s Dance - Walt Procanyn Orchestra
2010 - self-released
Together - Gina Sing
2010 - Gina Samardge
The Classic Sessions - Marty Grosz and Hot Winds
2009 - Arbor Records; ARCD: 19379
Beginner's Luck - Christine Reisner
2009 - self-released
If It Wasn’t For The Irish And The Jews - Mick Maloney
2009 - Compass Records 7 4525 2; (also on Alliance)
Public Enemies - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (track with Diana Krall, “Bye Bye Blackbird”)
2009 - Decca
Songbook - Griffith/Stevens Quartet
2007 - mjsproductions (Michael Jefry Stevens)
At The Jazz Band Ball - Manhattan Ragtime Orchestra
2007 - Stomp Off Records 1419
Book of Unstandards - Chris Chalfant
2006 - Jyaku Sound 062106
George M. Cohan Tonight! - Cast Recording
2006 - Ghostlight
Chase the Sun - Artie Tobia
2006 - Red Tail Hawk Records; RTHR 010698
Girl Crazy - Paul Bacon with Keith Ingham’s Serenaders
circa 2005 - self-released
Euphonic Sounds - Manhattan Ragtime Orchestra
2004 - Stomp Off Records 1402
Kalimba Collage - Peck Allmond
2004 - Soni Culture Records; SCR 3901
Still In The Way - 5 O’Clock Shadow / Artie Tobia
2004 - Red Tail Hawk Records; RTHR 81266
Triple Play - Dave Lobenstein
2003 - Dave Lobenstein (061432292722)
Warsawa (live in Warsaw) - Joseph Jarman & Rob Garcia
2002 - Era Jazzu
Vision Festival 2002 - Lifetime Vision Orchestra
2002 - Joseph Jarman/Chris Chalfant, Jyaku Sound (663445143727)
Love and Light - Chris Chalfant
2002 - Jyaku Sound 010602
The Old Country - Gabriele Tranchina
2002 - Sol La Ti Music; Gabriele Tranchina (783707682020)
Grupo Yanqui - Bennett Pastor & Gregory Ryan
2001 - self-released
Brilliant Coroners - Brilliant Coroners (John McDonough)
2001 - Yeahman Records (672460801321)
The Parade - Artie Tobia
2001 - Red Tail Hawk Records; RTHR 9999-2
Chicago Rhythm - Independence Hall Jazz Band
2001 - Stomp Off Records 1371
Lifetime Visions for the Magnificent Human - Joseph Jarman
2000 - Bopbuda Music (778631402424)
Hot, Sweet & Blue - Independence Hall Jazz Band
2000 - self released
Each Time - Adele Zane
2000 - Adele Zane (669910535028)
2 Sides - Toshi Kajiyama
1999 - TKD 1001
Wild Man Blues - Woody Allen & His New Orleans Jazz Band
1998 - RCA Victor (09026-63353-2)
Poems and Other Things - Stephan Crump
1997 - Papillon; PS 2872
Wherever There's Love - The Splendid Jazz Band
1997 - The Splendid Music Company; SMC 971