Garcia has led them through performances at major venues and festivals around the world such as Smalls Jazz Club (NYC), The Kitano (NYC), Firehouse 12 (New Haven, CT), The Rex (Toronto), Ronnie Scott’s (London) Jamboree (Barcelona), The Toronto Jazz Festival, The Kingston Jazz Festival and the Ottawa International Jazz Festival. The group received a Jazz Road Tour grant from South Arts for a US tour in September 2021. The group has released 6 critically acclaimed albums, 2 on Fresh Sound Records, and 4 on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records. Garcia continues to compose and arrange new material for the group keeping the energy fresh and inspired.

Personnel:
Noah Preminger - tenor saxophone
Leo Genovese - piano
Kim Cass - bass
Rob Garcia - drums

PRESS QUOTES:
“Garcia is a drummer of invention, grace and considerable fire.” - Downbeat
“an engrossing listen that seers the senses.” - Downbeat
“...one of New York’s great jazz drummers and composers.” - Capital New York
“remarkable drummer” - Village Voice
“remarkable chemistry” - Jazz Times
“Thoughtful original music delivered with rare conviction.” - Jazz Times
"The 10 Best Jazz Albums of 2009" in the New York Observer. (for Perennial - Rob Garcia 4)
“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
“A prime mover in the current Brooklyn jazz scene...” - Time Out-New York
“Creativity that is off the chart!” - JazzReview.com
“the Rob Garcia 4 is most definitely the truth.” - Nippertown
"The Rob Garcia 4 is fast becoming one of the city’s finest modern ensembles," - Capital New York
“...an elastic, adventurous statement from the drummer Rob Garcia." - New York Times
5 Stars in JazzReview.com (for The Drop and the Ocean - Rob Garcia 4)
5 Stars in Aargauer Zeitung (Switzerland) (for The Drop and the Ocean - Rob Garcia 4)
“Rob Garcia has over the last decade has been one of the most notable composers and drummers in the Brooklyn jazz scene.” - Gaffa (Denmark)(english translation)
“Rob Garcia is truly a guy who is worth following.” - Gaffa (Denmark)(english translation)

ROB'S BIO:
“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 continues to be a strong presence in the New York and international jazz scene as a sideman and bandleader. He has performed and/or recorded with bandleaders such as Wynton Marsalis, Joseph Jarman, Catherine Russell, Noah Preminger, Anat Cohen, Kris Davis, Woody Allen, Howard Alden, Lynne Arriale, John Benitez, John Bunch, Dena DeRose, Chris Cheek, Daniel Kelly, The Ghost Train Orchestra and Vince Giordano. Rob has also collaborated with other top musicians and groups such as: Joe Lovano, Sheila Jordan, Dave Liebman, Diana Krall, Myra Melford, The Kronos Quartet, Ben Monder, Donny McCaslin, Marty Erhlich, Jerome Richardson, Reggie Workman, Bob Berg, Ken Peplowski, Scott Robinson, Howard Johnson, Sonny Fortune, Bruce Barth, Wycliffe Gordon and Chris Potter, among others. He has played on over 70 albums including Grammy winners.

Rob has released 8 critically acclaimed albums as a bandleader and 5 as a co-leader which feature such artists as Joe Lovano, Noah Preminger, Kate McGarry, Dan Tepfer, John O’Gallagher, Gary Versace, Joe Martin, John Hebert, Dave Kikoski and Mike Formanek. Fresh Sound Records released his most recent album “Illumination” and will release his upcoming album “Natural Bounce” in autumn 2023. His albums have been on “top albums of the year” lists and have received praise from publications such as Downbeat, The New York Times, Jazz Times, and Time Out New York. Rob has also self-released a solo drums album called “Drum Solos For Dancers Only” in 2018. Rob’s groups have performed at venues such as The Ottawa Jazz Festival, The Toronto Jazz Festival, The Kingston Jazz Festival, Birdland, Iridium, Kitano, Smalls, The Rex and Firehouse 12. His group has toured Europe, the northeast and west coast of the U.S. Rob has received grants from South Arts, Meet The Composer, DCA and NYSCA to support his performances. He is also a member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop.

Rob has been a major force in artist-run organizations, a new way for jazz to continue and thrive. He is the founder and artistic director of a non-profit organization called Connection Works, which presents world-class jazz performances and educational events in Brooklyn. He is a member of the Brooklyn Jazz Underground, an association of independent artists with a shared commitment to creativity and community. He was also a founding member of the now defunct Douglass St Music Collective, an artist-run performance space, with some of New York’s most creative, cutting edge musicians.

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.