Bobby KappJazz has been a way of life for Bobby Kapp. He began singing to his Grandmother's player piano, and, when he was three, surprised his father by standing up and singing in the buses they traveled in. In high school, he sang with the mixed chorus, and then began playing drums and singing jazz - and has been doing so ever since.
After studying percussion at the Berklee School of Music, he moved to New York and became active in the original avant garde "new music"of the sixties. Some records that he has appeared on have become classics of that period:
"Three For Shepp" with Marion Brown (Impulse)
"Live at Judson Hall" with Noah Howard (ESP)
"In Search of a Mystery" Gato Barbieri's first recording (ESP)
"Dave Burrell High" with pianist Dave Burrell
Other greats that he has played drums with include masters Dexter Gordon and Pharoah Sanders.
In 1993, Bobby was chosen to participate as a vocalist in "Jazz in July" at the University of Massachusetts with Sheila Jordan and Nnenna Freelon. In 1998 he was a semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Vocalist Competition, and in 1999 he performed with Etta Jones at the San Miguel Jazz Festival where he first played the Hip Gig drum kit. "I was amazed at the portability and sound I got," he said, "especially from the brushes."
In 2000, he co-led, with Noah Howard" his "Back to the Future" project in the Bell Atlantic Jazz Festival in New York City. It was broadcast on the first "BET On Jazz" for national TV syndication. Bobby also sang and played drums at the Blue Note in NYC with his group the Fine Wine Trio as well as appearing at the Elvin Jones Jazz Festival in Poland.
Mr. Kapp has recently returned from a tour of Africa and the Near East with his Fine Wine Trio. Designated as "Jazz Ambassadors" for the United States Department of State, they opened their adventure with a concert performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
