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Bob Szajner
Thumbnail Biographical Sketch Bob Szajner:
Everyone has a story to tell, here is mine, hopefully interesting to
the reader.
Born on September 12, 1938, I grew up listening to many talented
relatives playing various instruments. My mother taught me the basics of
music and how to play piano at a very early age.
In 1948, (or there about), I won first prize in the "Frankie Carle
Piano Contest". This entitled me to one weeks performance at the Fox
Theater in Detroit. I was one of the opening acts on the bill (a
vaudeville theme) for Billie Holiday along with a comedian and an
acrobatic duo. I enjoyed listening to the style of music and
accompaniment for her. This was the beginning of my quest for my own
personal style.
Ten years later (or there about), for at least ten years, I started
writing and performing "Modern Jazz" later known as Bebop and then later
as Hard Bop. I performed with many musicians from the "Detroit Jazz"
scene at various sessions, venues and jazz clubs throughout the Detroit
Metropolitan Area. I worked with Donald Byrd, Charlie McPherson, Lonnie
Hillyer, Roy Brooks, Yuseff Lateef, Pepper Adams, Frank Isola and others
as a backup piano player.
For the next ten years, I wrote some tunes, but really became quite
dismayed and disappointed with the business of music, especially, the
lack of audience. Then on October 8, 1978 (my 18th wedding anniversary),
I recorded an album with my old school friend, drummer Roy Brooks and his
bassman Ray McKinney. "The Bob Szajner Triad" was a three record set of
my original compositions. A twenty-seven tune recording session
performing original music never played before or rehearsed, with no
second takes. This was the "Triad" concept. This lead to performances at
"The Cafe Detroit", "The Detroit Jazz Center" and the "Montreux Detroit
Jazz Festival 1981". "The lost tapes" CD07TA8104 and "center\\\cuts"
CD07TA8106, on RMS007 Records were recorded in 1981 at "The Detroit Jazz
Center".
They are released twenty-six years later as my historical tribute to
my former musician friends.
Visit
Bob
Szajner's site at Last.fm
What the Critics Say:
"neither tediously pretentious nor tediously
simplistic...compositions follow suit--simple, melodic, catchy..."
JOHN H. WILSON HI FIDELITY MAGAZINE
"excellent set of originals, which touch on blues, post-bop, gospel and
jazz-funk......"
BLACK RADIO EXCLUSIVE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
"rates top billing for its unique approach and results......"
CHRIS COLUMBI JR. PLAIN DEALER, Cleveland, Ohio
"like painting ...with water colours...you've got to be good and right
the first and only time......"
BOB BOWERS CKLW Canada
"most enjoyable...smooth but not slick...lyrical and happy......"
JACK COLE CING Burlington, Ontario Canada
"...without retakes...inspirational...to conceptualize the challenge and
integrity involved in subscribing to the strict ground
rules......."
DR. HERB WONG KJAZ Almeda, California U.S.A.
Recommended Recordings:
      
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