ROBERT ROSS
(vocals & guitar)
Robert is the subject of an online video series produced by Liam J. Holland entitled Raw Blues: The Series. The 22 minute segment includes five live solo performances of original tunes—it also includes a terrific interview between Liam and Robert about his start in music. Robert is a two-time New York Music Award winner (1989 & 2011) for Best Blues Artist. He has been nominated a total of seven times for a NYMA alongside such stars as Johnny Copeland, Taj Mahal, John Hammond Jr., Roscoe Gordon, Cyndi Lauper and Mose Allison. Robert is also a NY Blues Hall of Fame inductee. The lauded singer, songwriter, and guitarist is known for a wide variety of blues and jazz. Robert worked and recorded with Big Joe Turner for Spivey Records and for Doc Pomus. He also worked with Lightnin’ Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, Brownie McGhee, Memphis Slim, Sunnyland Slim, Otis Rush, Dr. John, J.B. Hutto, Victoria Spivey, Louisiana Red, Eddie Kirkland, Floyd Jones, Homesick James, Bobby Lewis, Pinetop Perkins, Charles & Cyrille Neville, David “Honey Boy” Edwards, Linda Hopkins, Wilbert Harrison and Champion Jack Dupree. He has opened shows for numerous music legends such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley, David Johansen, Albert King, Albert Collins, and Jethro Tull. One of Ross’ songs was recorded and released twice by Johnny Winter. Two other originals appeared on the daytime drama “All My Children” on ABC. Robert has toured Europe and North America with The Robert Ross Band, has performed at numerous festivals including the Chicago Blues Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival, and is a perennial at the Riverhead Blues Festival on Long Island. The Robert Ross Band has released seven internationally distributed CDs.
DAVE HOFSTRA
(upright acoustic bass, tuba, & back up vocals)
Dave was featured in the premier issue of Bass Player magazine in 1990 for good reason: Dave is the quintessential jazz bassist possessing a deep resonant tone, and a divine melodic and harmonic sense. Dave has performed with numerous jazz and blues artists including John Zorn, Hubert Sumlin, Otis Rush, Earl King, Phillip Johnston (Transparent Quartet & Big Trouble), The Microscopic Septet, Denis Charles, Claire Daly, William Parker, Jemeel Moondoc, Joel Forrester, Bobby Previte, Lou Grassi, Bobby Radcliff, James “Thunderbird” Davis, Grady Gaines, Debbie Davies, The Robert Ross Band, Chris Carter, Elliot Sharp, Marshall Crenshaw, Smokey Hormel, Marc Ribot, and Rachelle Garniez.
MAL STEIN
(drums, percussion, composer, backup vocals)
Mal is a highly versatile, dynamic, inventive, and sensitive musician who has worked with some of the top musicians in the Jazz/Blues/World music scene including Michael Powers, Robert Ross, Debra Coleman, Grant Green Jr., Tom Kennedy, and Cyrille Aimee. Mal also leads his own jazz band called Malversation. He has toured Europe numerous times and has performed at some of the largest venues in the business such as The Montreal Jazz Festival. Mal also composed the music for Joffrey Ballet’s Winter White Show.