Aquarium Rescue Unit, Badlands, THE BAKED POTATO, The Beatles, JEFF BECK, George Benson, Ben Folds Five, Richie Blackmore, John Blackwell, Michael Brecker, Jackson Brown, James Brown, Dave Brubeck, JIMMY BRUNO, Oteil Burbridge, Burning Water, Keith Carlock, LARRY CARLTON, Dennis Chambers, Ray Charles, VINNIE COLAIUTA, John Coltrane, Billy Cox, Cream, Crowded House, Miles Davis, Deep Purple, Joey DeFrancesco, Derek & The Dominos, The Dixie Dregs, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, El Grupo, Extreme, Faith No More, The Feeling, Buzz Feiten, Brandon Fields, NEIL FINN, Tim Finn, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, ROBBEN FORD, Danny Gatton, David Garfield, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, George Harrison, SCOTT HENDERSON, JIMI HENDRIX, Don Henley, Jimmy Herring, Allen Hinds, Jim Hynes, Allan Holdsworth, Jazz Is Dead, Jellyfish, Jing Chi, Billy Joel, Eric Johnson, Elton John, B.B. King, Albert King, Karizma, Mark Knopfler, Richie Kotzen, Wayne Krantz, Alison Krauss, MICHAEL LANDAU, Led Zeppelin, ALBERT LEE, Jake E Lee, John Lennon, STEVE LUKATHER, Los Lobotomys, Yngwie Malmsteen, Sarah McLaughlin, Marco Minnemann, Pat Martino, Greg Mathieson, Dave Matthews Band, Mahavisnu Orchestra, Harvey Mason, Brian May, John McLaughlin, Megadeth, Pat Metheny, Buddy Miles, Mitch Mitchell, Thelonius Monk, WES MONTGOMERY, Gary Moore, Steve Morse, Shawn Mullins, Ozzy Osbourne, JACO PASTORIUS, Simon Phillips, Pink Floyd, Jeff Porcaro, Prince, Queen, Radiohead, Rainbow, Otis Redding, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Randy Rhoads, Keith Richards, Smokey Robinson, David Lee Roth, Richie Sambora, Joe Satriani, Brian Setzer, Wayne Shorter, Paul Simon, Slipknot, Jimmy Smith, Steely Dan, Mike Stern, Sting, Stone Temple Pilots, James Taylor, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Toto, Derek Trucks Band, Tribal Tech, Tuck & Patti, Ty Tabor, U2, Steve Vai, EDWARD VAN HALEN, Stevie Wonder,The Yellowjackets, Rufus Wainwight, Joe Walsh, Weather Report, Dave Weckl Band, Gary Willis, Albert Wing, Victor Wooten, Dweezil Zappa, FRANK ZAPPA, Joe Zawinul and many more. Should have just said MUSIC.
And of course, there are books and cinema, but I've rambled on for long enough.
Sounds Like
"What you bring to your playing is the sum of what you are"
{Philip T. Sudo}
*** Rob Garland was born in Kent, England in 1973 and grew up around music. His earliest memories include listening to his Grandfather play violin and being fascinated by the sound of Django Reinhardt/Stephane Grappelli records. Rob's parents were always bringing different music into their house and he began playing the guitar at age 14, initially attracted to the virtuosity and energy (not to mention the rather large hair) of the hard rock genre. After playing in several bands comprised of school friends, he joined an original band, 'Dead Happy' and played college shows in the south of England. Although the band played predominantly funk/pop, Rob's blues/rock influences began to surface. Dead Happy's debut CD entitled, 'A Field Of Flowers,' was released in 1994. They made a subsequent EP two years later and shot a promotional video on a sound stage in London. Rob remained with the band for seven years, during which time he wrote music for film on piano and guitar as part of his degree at Canterbury Christchurch College. In order to diversify his playing, he played with a rock band, 'Breed' and an acoustic folk duo, 'Platypus' in which he shared lead and harmony vocals.
In 1999, Rob recorded his first solo CD, 'Sway,' which he wrote, arranged and sang lead vocals. The CD was well received with favorable reviews from UK magazines such as 'Guitarist.' His influences widened over the next few years as he began to study jazz and delve back into the history of the blues.
In his mid 20's Rob moved to the USA. He played for a year with original funk/soul band, 'Mind Over Soul' and then formed his own blues/jazz trio, 'The Blue Monks,' in which he also sang lead vocals. The Monks' released two original CD's, 2001's self titled disc and 'When It's All Said & Done,' released in 2003 and currently available for download through Snocap.
The band played hundreds of shows across the mid-west and the south with improvisation at the core of each performance, bringing in elements of rock, pop, funk and jazz against a backdrop of the blues. Many other talented musicians joined the band onstage for extended late night jam sessions. The band attained radio airplay in the US, South America and Europe, with Rob's pop/rock composition 'Never Be The Same' becoming the most requested song on nationally syndicated radio show 'Homegrown.'
The Blue Monks also played numerous festivals (alongside artists such as Booker-T and B.B. King) and opened for national acts (including Dave Hole and Chuck Berry). Rob also played guitar and sang for a year as part of an acoustic blues/jazz combo featuring many St. Louis blues music veterans, such as Albert King/SRV bassist Gus Thorton.
In 2004 Rob was interviewed by 'Guitar One' magazine and talked of his influences and aspirations. In 2005 he produced a solo CD entitled, 'Stars Turn Everywhere.' Later that year, the Monks performed a live acoustic set that was recorded and broadcast on 88.1 KDHX FM radio.
In 2006 Rob decided to disband The Blue Monks, to work on other projects and spend more time studying and teaching. He filled in with Cream/Led Zeppelin influenced rock power trio 'S.G.V.' for a few months and then began playing with instrumental jazz/rock fusion groups 'The Oday Project' and 'The Richard Fuller Quartet.' RFQ recorded a live in-studio CD and performed live on local television networks.
Rob also played sessions during this time for local studios, arranging and producing other artists material ranging in genre. He wrote several jazz/rock fusion style instrumental tracks that were featured on the Guitar Nine Records website.
Rob has been teaching guitar since his early twenties and his instructional guitar book, 'Jazz For The Blues Guitarist' is available now from Amazon.com published by Cherry Lane Music and distributed by Hal Leonard. {See blog for more details.}
In 2008 Rob joined the 'SoulCoustic' jam project, a long time group of eclectic musicians that record lengthy improvised jams at a studio and live at clubs, which is subsequently broadcast on internet radio. He also formed a jazz guitar duo and worked with virtuoso keyboard player Phil Gomez in a fusion band.
In June of 2009 Rob and his wife Heather relocated to sunny Los Angeles.
Rob is currently working on several projects, playing gigs in L.A. with different bands-(check the calendar for upcoming shows)-and studying with jazz guitarist Jimmy Bruno (via his online institute). He is still searching for "that note." ***
Theres my British buddy!! Hows the preparation going my friend? Stoked? So what say you to the idea of some jamming after you get all settled in?? Working on a few songs... im thinking fun times!
I have been to the baked potato once so far, pretty cool little place. But the cover is so damn expensive! But I hear there is a hip open jam on Monday's with no cover. Been wanting to hit that up, but those nights starting at Midnight until 6am I engineer some studio sessions.
Hey my favorite guitar toting Brit! Listening to some Soulive and looking forward to your triumphant move to the west coast! Bar-B-Que and Jamming will commence!
I LOVE it when you say things like "cheeky bugger", its very European of you. Dude thats awesome about being down here! I cant freakin wait! We will have to Bar-B-Que!! Midwest in the HOUSE!!!
Roberto!! Whats up buddy! You know I miss you! Whats the update? Im trying to get your book in our store, we will see how that goes... anyway, where did you get that sweet quote on your page "There are no wrong notes?" HAHA! Anyway man, seriously let me know whats up! We got some catchin up to do, and the some freakin jamming when you move out to the LA area!
