Columbus, Ohio-based Saxophonist Robert Dove is “As a soloist, he’s in a word, formidable.” Robert Bush proclaims, a freelance jazz writer of the San Diego Reader, NBC San Diego, and All About Jazz.
Dove earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies from UNC-Greensboro’s Miles Davis Jazz Studies Program. Upon finishing his degree, Robert moved to San Diego in 2013, where he began his professional career.
Dove has had the opportunity to perform at a multitude of venues and events spanning the United States, Canada, and Europe. He has performed and recorded alongside John Ellis, Marcus Roberts, Lee Konitz, Wessel “Warmdaddy” Anderson, Jason Marsalis, Donny McCaslin, Peter Bernstein, Jim Rupp, Bobby Floyd, Byron Stripling, Gene Walker, and other prominent musicians. He is well versed in music as a whole, and uses this facility to arrange, compose, perform, and educate with multiple groups throughout the U.S.
Robert currently leads his own group, the Robert Dove Quintet, featuring his debut album “Paradigm Shift” featuring Gilbert Castellanos and Marshall Hawkins, which highlights the influences of jazz royalty, but with a more modern approach. In addition to this, Robert also works as a sideman with George DeLancey and the Zach Compston Big Band. He has worked in the past as a founding member in the Gaslamp Quarter Jazz Orchestra as well as performed as a sideman with many other groups including The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Ray Massa's EuroRhythms, the Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra, The Jazz @ The Jacobs Jazz Orchestra, The KSDS Repertory Orchestra, and many more.
As an Educator, Rob also works hard to give back to his community as a Lead Teacher for the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus within The Jazz Academy, Central Ohio's premier jazz education resource. He currently works as an artistic director for the Jazz Academy on Tour, as well as Lead Teaching Artist in the Columbus Youth Jazz Outreach Initiative with Columbus City Schools, of whom he is a product, as well as with Jumpin' JAKS, a program designed for Early-Childhood Education. He also maintains a saxophone studio that has sent young musicians to 4-year programs including but not limited to: Julliard, Manhattan School of Music, Berklee School of Music, Michigan State University, UCLA, USC, San Diego State University, and more.
