Rob Jacoby Step Up CD

Rob Jacoby is a New York-based musician concentrated in jazz. Although mainly a tenor saxophonist, he also has acute abilities on clarinet, flute, and the other saxophones, as well as bassoon and bass clarinet. Rob also plays club dates and many musicals, utilizing his doubling abilities. He leads his own group that plays private parties, clubs, and restaurants, in the New York City, Westchester County, and surrounding areas. Rob Jacoby grew up in White Plains, New York and graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in Elmsford, NY. He began saxophone instruction at the age of 8 with his mentor, Milt Williams, father of actress/singer Vanessa Williams and actor/comedian Chris Williams. By age 11, Rob's interests concentrated on jazz music and he began studies in this genre elsewhere.Rob's career began by playing in musical productions in local theaters at the age of 12, honing his reading abilities and doubling skills. Later, he played with the Westchester County Youth Jazz Ensemble and began to play jazz gigs in parks, festivals, and other locations. Rob started his own group called the Westchester Blue Notes, a sextet, who performed throughout Westchester County and the rest of the tri-state area. After a few years, the group began to mutate and its original name became rarely billed. Rob began to lead his own quartet/quintet and started performing in local clubs, restaurants, and bars.At the age of 15, Rob began studying with Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Ralph Lalama, who took the young musician under his wing and became one of his mentors. During Rob's last year in high school, he was selected as the first tenor saxophonist in the New York All State Jazz Ensemble directed by pianist/composer Mike Holober. The band performed in both Rochester and Albany and Rob gained recognition and praise for his remarkable talent. Rob has had the pleasure of recording for world-renowned jazz producer Teo Macero. The recording included legendary musicians such as Lee Konitz, Dave Liebman, Alex Sipiagin, George Garzone, and others. The album was released in the summer of 2007. Rob is currently attending New York University in the Jazz Performance program, led by Dave Schroeder, and is given the opportunity to work with such luminaries as Don Friedman, Ralph Lalama, Brian Lynch, Joe Lovano, Billy Drewes, Jim McNeely, Dave Pietro, and Rich Shemaria.Over his short, yet fruitful, career, Rob has performed at the Blue Note, Jazz at Lincoln Center's Allen Room, the Garage, the Bowery Poetry Club, and has been seen at Smalls, Sweet Rhythm, Showman’s, and the Bar Next Door. He has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with greats including Joe Lovano, Ralph Lalama, Steve Turre, Dennis Irwin, Wynton Marsalis, Chris Potter, Brian Lynch, Joe Magnarelli, and Barry Ries.