Bob Florence

Bob Florence (20 May 1932; Los Angeles – 15 May 2008; Los Angeles) was an American jazz arranger and pianist. He began taking piano lessons at five and initially intended to be a concert pianist. However, on taking classes with Bob McDonald he changed direction toward jazz.

At the beginning of his career Florence worked as a pianist and arranger with Dave Pell. He founded his first band in the late 1950s, working with, amongst others, Herb Geller, Bud Shank, Frank Capp and Bob Enevoldsen. Since that time, Florence worked in various big band projects across the Los Angeles area, working mainly with session musicians and as an accompanist to various singers. Throughout his career Florence worked as an arranger for Harry James, Louie Bellson, Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Count Basie and Doc Severinsen.

In 2000, Florence won the Grammy for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance

Selected Discography

• Meet The Bob Florence Trio (Era, 1956)
• Name Band- 1959 (Fresh Sound, 1958) with Herb Geller and Bob Enevoldsen
• Here and Now (Liberty Records/Fresh Sound, 1964) with Bud Shank and Frank Capp
• Live at Concerts By The Sea (Trend, 1980)
• Westlake (Discovery, 1981)
• Soaring (Sea Breeze, 1982)
• Magic Time (Trend, 1983)
• Trashcan City (Discovery, 1986)
• The Norwegian Radio Big Band meets Bob Florence (Odin, 1986)
• State of the Art (USA Music Group, 1988)
• Funupsmanship (MAMA, 1992)
• Earth (MAMA, 1996)
• Serendipity (MAMA, 1998)
• Another Side (MAMA, 2002)
• Whatever Bubbles Up (Summit Records, 2003)
• Friends, Treasures, Heroes (Summit Records, 2005)
• You Will Be My Music (MAMA, 2007)
• Legendary (MAMA, 2009)

References

• Richard Cook & Brian Morton: The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, 6th Edition, London, Penguin, 2002 ISBN 0-14-017949-6.
• Bielefelder Katalog 1988 & 2002

External links

• BBC Radio 2
• Musician Profile
• Bob Florence Story