Bob Packwood - Piano/Composer
My lifetime career in music includes 15 years in New York City, extensive international touring and a discography featuring over 50 recordings. I have recently moved back to my home state of Montana to compose and record my new solo piano CD. My active performing schedule includes solo appearances as well as gigs with some of Montana's finest songwriters and bands.
I began playing piano at age 6. This adds up to 55 years with the instrument that has taken me around the world and back. I started playing with my first piano trio in junior high school and electric guitar in rock bands in high school. My life as a full-time musician began in 1974, playing 5 sets a night, 6 nights a week all over the country, playing all kinds of music.
In 1988 I was selected to participate in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. The judges included three of my most beloved jazz pianists: Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan and Barry Harris. The experience of playing for these jazz giants inspired a change of address. In 1989 I began a 15-year residence in New York City - recording, performing and partying with some of my favorite musicians coming through the East Village: The Yayhoos, Steve Earle, Hank Williams III, Lucero, Jim Lauderdale, Shannon McNally, Mike Younger, Greg Garing, Tammy Faye Starlight, Mark Spencer, Tandy, The Damnwells, Eric "Roscoe" Ambel. I played all over New York City: The Beacon Theater, The Rainbow Room, The Knitting Factory, CBGB's, Joe's Pub, Visionies, The Bitter End, The Lakeside Lounge, The Mercury Lounge, The Bowery Ballroom, The Living Room and every club in the Lower East Side including hundreds of shows at the legendary 9C. In 2001, I began the 1st of several European tours - England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Spain and Germany with Canadian singer/songwriter Oh Susanna.
In 2004, I was asked to join a 2-month tour promoting Blue Rodeo's 10th album. This tour stretched into 5 years of sold-out concerts in every theater, arena and music festival in Canada. During this time I was fortunate to perform and record with some of Canada's finest musicians: Neil Young, Kathleen Edwards, Garth Hudson, Ron Sexsmith, Justin Rutledge and many more. The two Blue Rodeo recordings that I worked on are both Juno Award winners: "Small Miracles" for Record Of The Year and "Blue Road" for DVD Of The Year.
I have recently returned to the people and landscape of my home state Montana. Local performances have included shows with legendary New Orleans soul master Cyril Neville and his queen Gaynelle, a memorable concert with jazz sax master Madaline Duran, a great little tour with rock star/songwriter Walter Salas-Humaras (The Silo's) and a pair of heart-warming concerts at The Myrna Loy Theater honoring the compositions of Montana's own Alex Swaney and a duo with the GREAT jazz guitarist Blackie Nelson. Currently concentrating on solo piano concerts of my original compositions. See ya' at a show....