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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.