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Mysterious Traveler - Rob Martino
Mar 16, 2018
Mysterious Traveler 4 Concert Series
April 30th, 2018 / Rob Martino
Parkway Central Library | Montgomery Auditorium
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
All events in this series are FREE.
Mysterious Travelers 4: Further Investigations - a collaboration between The Free Library of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Jazz Project. Back by overwhelming popular demand! FREE concerts on Monday nights from September 2017 through May 2018; audiences will hear from veteran, as well as up-and-coming musicians who are shaping the future sounds of Philadelphia with a sharp ear to the legacies of our past. This season our artists will continue to celebrate the massive and amazing collections of the Free Library by exploring them as a source of inspiration for the creation of new musical works.
Rob Martino is Philadelphia based drummer, composer, and educator. Rob has studied with some world class musicians including Ralph Alessi, Dick Oatts and Steve Fidyk. He received his Bachelor of Music from Temple University, and has traveled all over the country with various groups including musical directing the All Hands On Deck Show. Rob is currently composing and arranging for the Materia Collective, and his own original music. Currently, Rob Martino is the drummer for renowned chiptune, artist NML Style.
Drummer and composer, Rob Martino will be our next, guest artist in the Mysterious Traveler Concert Series. In his concert, Rob Martino will musically explore activity in the Arts In The Year 1987: The year of his birth.
PJP spoke with Rob Martino about his music, approach and the new project that he will reveal in the Mysterious Traveler Concert Series.
PJP: Can you briefly describe your musical direction?
Rob Martino: My musical direction is having structure but allowing as much freedom as possible. The ultimate goal is to go to musical places that feel new, but still feel grounded.
PJP: What and whom are pivotal musical influences on your creative approach?
Rob Martino: My friends and family are a huge influence on my creativity. Also musicians like John Hollenbeck, Ralph Alessi to name a few, inspire me to be as creative as possible.
PJP: What are you going to present at the Mysterious Traveler Concert Series?
Rob Martino: I’m going to present The Year In Review: 1987. This theme will navigate through the year 1987.
PJP: Why is this theme/concept so important?
Rob Martino: A theme, or concept helps me to focus my creative energy. This applies to the musicians, or band I put together for the performance.
PJP: Can you explain your process and the steps that led to this performance?
Rob Martino: I've researched many events, topics, and people during 1987. Then formed a band that would best present music that reflected this time. My composing style has changed throughout the process, using visual and written text as fuel for the music.
PJP: How do you manage the task of creating and encouraging fresh, new, forwarding moving musical ideas while simultaneously exploring, celebrating and documenting the past?
Rob Martino: I try my best to explore the past, but try to come about it at a different angle. Even though it may have been seen before, if we turn it slightly we may look at it another way entirely.
PJP: When listening to your music what advice would you give the audience to assist with greater understanding and enjoyment?
Rob Martino: I always try to keep an open mind (or open ears) when listening to music. So I would want the audience to be open and explore the music that we are creating.
PJP: Why Jazz? When you could be doing anything else, Why this music?
Rob Martino: Jazz has given me the freedom to explore new areas of music that other genres don’t allow. I can be free and express myself in this music, which represents who I am.
Check out Rob Martino in this special tribute to John Coltrane & Eric Dolphy
Keep up with Rob Martino's creative activity by visiting his WEBSITE or FACEBOOK.
Mysterious Traveler 4 Concert Series
April 30th, 2018 / Rob Martino
Parkway Central Library | Montgomery Auditorium
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
All events in this series are FREE.
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Mysterious Traveler 4 - Further Investigations Concert Series is produced by Philadelphia Jazz Project in collaboration with The Free Library of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Jazz Project is a sponsored project of the Culture Trust | Greater Philadelphia, with funding provided by The Philadelphia Foundation.
