Bob Moses is pretty much one of the most underrated drummers in the United States. A drummer for decades, he is recognized for the adventure he brings to the drum, making him a composer in his own league. Bob has played with some of the finest instrumentalists including Rahsaan Roland Kirk as a teenager and American jazz vibraphonist, Gary Burton. Also known as Ra-Kalam Bob Moses, the drummer is also a poet and a dancer.
Biography of Bob Moses
Even though the American jazz drummer is popular like Bob Moses, it is like Robert Laurence Moses that he was born in New York on January 28, 1948.
He started as a drummer when he was still a very young child. At the time, his parents had musician friends, which made him love music. Chief among them was swing and jazz drummer Ed Shaughnessy who was also his godfather. The drummer was the first person to give Bob his first drum (a tam-tam) when he was just 10 years old.
As his interest in the instrument grew, his sponsor gave him an experimental set that had a thin bass drum. Describing the instrument much later, Moses said he had never seen anything like it. After the set was given to him, he immediately fell in love with the drums for the first time before hearing legendary American jazz drummer and composer, Max Roach, who was also his father’s friend. At that time, he knew there was no going back for him with the instrument.
During his decades-long career, BobMoses worked with many stars including Rahsaan Roland Kirk from 1964 to 1965. He then formed the Jazz fusion band The Free Spirits with guitarist Larry Coryell in 1965. The band n didn’t last very long as it finally ended in 1968.
When he started his career with his first band, they performed at a New York club known as The Scene. Unfortunately, the band didn’t make a lot of money there. In fact, he only managed to earn $10 a night. Before it ended, The Free Spirits released two albums – Out of Sight and Sound and Living on the Place both in 1967.
His next band was Compost which had the likes of Jumma Santos, Jack Gregg, Jack DeJohnette and Harold Vick as members. The jazz fusion group has released two albums; their self-titled debut album Compost, also known as Enlevez votre corps in 1971 followed by La vie est ronde in 1973.
With Larry Coryell, Steve Swallow, Keith Jarrett and Jim Pepper, he released his first album, Love Animal in 1968. His other works as a leader and co-leader include Bittersuite in the Ozone in 1975, Family in 1979, Spirit renewed (1982) and When Elephants Dream of Music in 1982.
He has also published different works with Tisziji Muñoz, Brian Landrus, Darius Jones, David Friesen and Franco Ambrosetti as a sideman.
American Drummer Facts
1. He had no formal training
Upon arrival, Bob Moses rebelled against any form of formal training. However, he spent a year under a classical music teacher Morris Goldenberg who taught him things like reading, a small xylophone and snare drum techniques, but that didn’t help the jazz that l interested. He also tried a number of other teachers without success.
2. Ra Kalam Bob Moses is also a teacher
Beyond being a drummer and a composer, he is also a teacher who leads workshops in the United States and also in Europe. In addition to this, he works on the jazz faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music.
3. He is also an author
The great drummer published a book called Drum Wisdom in 1989. The book is quite popular among drummers.
4. He has a very private life
Bob Moses leads a very private life so much information such as his personal life, relationships, children and other such details are not available in the public domain. Besides that, his net worth remains unknown even though it is believed to do a lot for him in almost every field.