Bob Moses (musician)


Robert Laurence Moses is an American jazz drummer.

Biography

He was born in New York, United States. Moses played with Roland Kirk in 1964–65 while he was still a teenager. In 1966, he and Larry Coryell formed The Free Spirits, a jazz fusion ensemble, and from 1967 to 1969 he played in Gary Burton's quartet, including drumming for the Grammy-nominated album Gary Burton Quartet in Concert. He played on the landmark 1967 Burton album A Genuine Tong Funeral, but due to creative disputes with the album's composer Carla Bley, he was credited as "Lonesome Dragon". Moses and Bley would later reconcile and he became a vocal booster for her music.
Moses recorded with Burton in the 1970s, in addition to work with Dave Liebman/Open Sky, Pat Metheny, Mike Gibbs, Hal Galper, Gil Goldstein, Steve Swallow, Steve Kuhn/Sheila Jordan, George Gruntz, and Emily Remler. In the early 1970s he was a member of Compost with Harold Vick, Jumma Santos, Jack Gregg and Jack DeJohnette.
His first release as a leader was 1968's Love Animal. His second release was 1973's Bittersuite in the Ozone. His records for Gramavision in the 1980s were critically acclaimed.
He is the author of the drum method book Drum Wisdom, published in 1984.
Moses performs alongside John Lockwood, Damon Smith, Jaap Blonk, Don Pate, and John Medeski with guitarist Tisziji Muñoz and teaches at New England Conservatory.
In 2022, he recorded a trio album with the Norwegian bassist Arild Andersen and Slovenian guitarist Samo Šalamon entitled Pure and Simple, after Šalamon had an extensive interview with him.

Discography

As leader

Bittersuite in the Ozone Tributaries with Richard Sussman, Andy LaVerne Family When Elephants Dream of Music Visit with the Great Spirit The Story of Moses Drumming Birds with Billy Martin Wheels of Colored Light Time Stood Still Devotion Love Everlasting with Tisziji Muñoz Nishoma Love Animal Meditation on Grace with Michel Lambert Father's Day B'hash The Illuminated Heart Ecstatic Weanderings with Greg Burk Ultra Minor with Jon Catler
With The Free SpiritsOut of Sight and Sound Live at the Scene, February 22nd 1967
With CompostTake Off Your Body Life Is Round
With Open Sky
Open Sky – rec. 1972
  • ''Spirit in the Sky''

As sideman

With Gary BurtonLofty Fake Anagram A Genuine Tong Funeral Gary Burton Quartet in Concert Ring Dreams So Real
With Michael GibbsIn the Public Interest Directs the Only Chrome-Waterfall Orchestra Big Music By the Way
With Steve KuhnMotility Non-Fiction Playground Last Year's Waltz
With Dave LiebmanDrum Ode Homage to John Coltrane Spirit Renewed
With Steve MarcusTomorrow Never Knows Count's Rock Band The Lord's Prayer
With Tisziji MuñozThe Paradox of Independence When Coltrane Calls! Session 3: Living Immortality Scream of Ensoundment
With others