Quick Facts
Biography
Bob Kaye (1945—23 September 2019) was one American Jazz musician (piano, arrangement).
Kaye was born in 1945. He started his music career in the Catskill Mountains, New York when he was 16 years old. He then attended the Manhattan School of Music, New York, graduating in 1967. After finishing his music education, he worked as a hotel musician and companion for vocalists.
In the 1970s, Kaye was a pianist and from 1978 also an arranger for the Buddy RichBand. In 1980, he performed on "Grand Concourse" track on Buddy Rich's album "The Man From Planet Jazz", accompanying Wayne Pedzwater (bass), Andy Fusco(alto saxophone), Kenneth Hitchcock (tenor saxophone), Steve Marcus (tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone), Bob Mintzer (baritone saxophone), Mike Plumleigh (trumpet), Glenn Franke (trombone), and Roger Homefield (trombone).
Kaye also performed for noted vocalists Anita O’Day, Chris Connor, Lainie Kazan, and Julius La Rosa.
Over the years, Kaye also performed with several celebrated jazz musicians like Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Hank Mobley, Mel Tormé, Lionel Hampton, Woody Shaw, Clark Terry, Milt Hinton, Frank Wess, Jymie Merritt, Phil Woods and Louie Bellson. He played as the orchestra leader and pianist with Liza Minnelli, Rosemary Clooney, Cab Calloway, Claire Barry, Helen Schneider, Count BasieOrchestra, and Ray Alexander Sextet.
In 1971, Kaye played and arranged Cavril Payne's album "Cavril Sings" alongside Howard Leshaw (alto saxophone) and Ray Copeland (trumpet). In 1977, he played on Chris Connor's album "Chris Moves" alongside George Opalisky (alto saxophone), Lee Konitz (alto saxophone), Richard Davis (bass), Ed Soph (drums), Grady Tate (drums), and Jimmy Madison (drums). The album was produced by Teo Macero.
In 1997, Kaye performed on Bob Stewart's album "One Life" with Jack Wilkins(guitar), Chip Jackson (double bass), and Ronnie Zito (drums).
In the 1980s, Kaye also performed with Trio at Angry Squire (Larry Vuckovich on piano, Harvie Swartz on bass, and Peter Leitch on guitar.) in New York clubs.
Death
Kaye died on September 23, 2019, at the age of 74.