Rob began studies at the piano with Arthur Cunningham at the age of 6. In grade school, he was inspired to take up the trumpet and hasn't stopped since. His early jazz influences growing up were listening to his dad's old "78's" of Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, and later, listening to Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Freddie Hubbard.
During his early twenties, Rob studied jazz at City College (NY), where there was an extensive jazz program. He had the opportunity to take improv classes with pianist John Lewis (of MJQ) and trombonist Bob Norden, as well as jazz bands with both Bob and saxophonist Ed Summerlin. He also studied trumpet privately with the legendary Carmine Caruso.
After gaining his BA in music, Rob started playing out in the local jazz community in Northern New Jersey, Rockland and Westchester Counties.
In his thirties, Rob settled in upstate NY in an area centrally located between the Berkshires, the Catskills and the Capital District (Albany). In the late 80s, Rob hosted a jazz radio show at a local station, featuring both recorded music (from his own collection...the radio station had none at all) and live artists from the area.
Ten years later, (1996-1999) he started a short-lived, but well received online website called the Jazz Friends Review, which featured CD reviews and articles written by himself and other jazz enthusiasts around the United States.
Rob continues to live and perform in upstate NY and western Massachusetts.
