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Bob Wyatt

Drummer, College Professor, resides in São Paulo, Brazil

About Me

Bob Wyatt, native of Baltimore, began studying snare drum at the age of nine with a local percussionist, Robert Kennick, who was the tympanist for the Baltimore Symphony for many years. Later, at 13, he studied at the Peabody Conservatory Preparatory Department, again under Mr. Kennick. By the age of 14, was playing in local dance bands, including a youth big band, The Mello Men, sponsored by a local chapter of the Optimist Club.

Throughout those years, until the age of 20, he continued studying privately. The teachers whom he credits with the most influence are Charles Memphis, also of the Peabody Conservatory and Mike Shepherd, instructor at the Armed Forces School of Music, Little Creek Viginia, long time friend and continuing inspiration.

In 1967, Bob entered the Navy Music Program and during his tour of duty, studied at the Armed Forces School of Music. Through the Navy he toured and performed in Caribbean and Mediterranean countries. In 1971, he enrolled in the music program at Memphis State University and received a scholarship from the music department. During that period he participated in several college Jazz festivals and in 1973, as a member of the James Williams Quintet, went to the American College Jazz Festival where he received an award for outstanding achievement. During his stay in Memphis Bob had the pleasure of working with Clark Terry, Gary Burton, Frank Foster, George Coleman, James Williams, and Tom Ferguson.

In 1976, Bob toured with the Maynard Ferguson Band through 20 US states and 11 cities in Japan. By 1979, he was living and playing in New York. In the summer of that year, he studied at the Creative Music Studio, in Woodstock, spending eight weeks with Anthony Braxton, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell and Carl Berger.

Working in Brazil since 1981, Bob has had the opportunity to play with Paulo Moura, Leni de Andrade, Pau Brasil, João Donato, Maurício Einhorn, Helio Delmiro, Nivaldo Ornellas, Chet Baker, Idriss Boudrioua and Nelson Ayres, Jair Rodrigues, SoundScape Bigband, Roberto Sion, among others.

In 1985 and 1986, he participated in the Free Jazz Festivals in both Rio and São Paulo with Chet Baker, Maurício Einhorn, Pau Brasil and Idriss Boudrioua.

Starting in 1990, Bob was co-leader, along with Alexandre Mihanovich, of a nonet called ReBop. The band appeared in São Paulo jazz spots and in concert halls. In 1992 they performed in the theatre, SESC Paulista and in 1994 at the Winter Music Festival in São Paulo.

In 1998 and 1999 Bob was invited to teach at the XXIX and XXX Winter Music Festivals, an annual music camp. In 2002 he taught at the Centro de Estudos Musicais Tom Jobim , a state conservatory in São Paulo, Brazil. In 2003 he was invited to teach at São Paulo's new municipal cultural centers called, CEUs, where he taught drumset and ensemble practice.

From 1999 to 2007, Bob was part of the Nelson Ayres Trio which performed in theatres in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro as well as with the Orquestra Jazz Sinfônica, the Orquestra Sinfonia Cultura, both in São Paulo,and the Orquestra Sinfônica do Paraná, in Curitiba. We also appear monthly at the Supremo Musical, a popular night spot in São Paulo.

Since 2004, Bob has divided his time between teaching and playing. His teaching activities are centered in two undergraduate courses: Faculdade Souza Lima (http:// www.souzalima.com.br), where he teaches drumset and ensembles, and the Escola Superior de Música, Faculdade Cantareira (http://cantareira.br), where he is coordinator of the of the Jazz and Instrumental Brazilian music area, ensemble practice and the drumset course.

Bob currently appears with Regra de Três (http://triosbrasileiros.bandcamp.com), a trio formed with Lupa Santiago on guitar and Sizão Machado on bass, TriUnity Jazz Trio (www.triunityjazz.com) and Quarteto em trânsito, all of which are based in São Paulo.

Other musical activites include: teacher training for Projeto Guri, a state sponsored cultural center with over 350 units throughout S.Paulo, master classes for students and teachers at the state conservatory in Tatuí and recent workshops for a number of units of the SESC community centers throughout São Paulo.