Bob Moses

Bob Moses

Bob Moses is the name used by a Brooklyn-born American jazz drummer and composer born in 1948. He works in avant-garde jazz and jazz, and records for Ra-Kalam Records and Odjiboa Music.

Career

Moses plays with and has been associated with several ensembles, including The Free Spirits, the Gary Burton Quartet, The George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band and Group Everything Everything Everything. He also appears with other musicians from the jazz and fusion worlds, including Roland Kirk, Larry Coryell, Dave Liebman, Pat Metheny, Mike Gibbs, Hal Galper, Gil Goldstein, Steve Swallow, Steve Kuhn, Sheila Jordan and Emily Remler.

He plays with Roland Kirk in 1964 and 1965 while still a teenager. In 1966 he and Larry Coryell form The Free Spirits, a jazz fusion group. From 1967 to 1969 he performs in Gary Burton’s quartet, and he continues to record with Burton in the 1970s. During the early 1970s he is also a member of Compost with Harold Vick, Jumma Santos, Jack Gregg and Jack DeJohnette. His first session as a leader takes place in 1975.

Recordings and later work

Moses’ releases for Gramavision in the 1980s receive critical acclaim. He performs with John Lockwood, Don Pate and John Medeski alongside guitarist Tisziji Muñoz, and he teaches at New England Conservatory.

Electronic duo of the same name

There is also an electronic duo called Bob Moses, made up of Jimmy Vallance and Tom Howie, who form in Brooklyn with roots in Vancouver. That act releases the EPs Hand to Hold, Far from the Tree and First to Cry, then the compilation All in All and albums including Days Gone By, Battle Lines and The Silence in Between. Their single “Tearing Me Up” receives Grammy recognition and they collaborate with ZHU on “Desire” and with Elderbrook on “Inner Light.”