Bobb Fantauzzo became enchanted with the sounds of the Native American flute while traveling in New Mexico during the summer of 1997. Six months later he was gifted his first flute and discovered that it was taking him on both a musical and personal journey.

"I took piano lessons as a child, but I wasn't very good at it; I couldn't seem to coordinate all of my fingers with all of those keys. And I was getting less and less enjoyment out of learning to play things that didn't interest me.

In high school I started to play guitar. It was during the hey-day of folk music (the Beatle's were still unknown of in the States) and that's the type of music I started playing. But I only knew a few basic chords and couldn't get my short, stubby fingers to play the sounds I was hearing in my head. Once again I became disappointed in my inability to play what I was hearing in my head; so I gave up playing music altogether for several years (turning to photography for my creative outlet).

Then I became introduced to the Native American flute. And that changed eveything for me. I fell in love with how it sounded and as I taught myself how to play it I began to experiment with the sounds I could coax out of it. In many regards, the flute became my voice. It became the vehicle through which I could express my deepest thoughts and feelings; those things for which words get in the way."

Influenced greatly by the music/sound of R. Carlos Nakai, Miles Davis and John Coltrane, Bobb continues the journey of developing his own unique voice: a blending of the Native American flute and jazz. His music is infused with both heart and soul ranging from being mellow and poignant to upbeat and bluesy.

Bobb moved to Minneapolis,MN in 2001 from State College, PA and began playing flute in public for the first time at open mic nights. Since then, Bobb has performed in a number of venues throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul area including Black Bear Crossings on Lake Como, Riverview Cafe, Betsy's Back Porch Coffee, Ginkgo Coffeehouse, The Habit, Anodyne, Corner Coffee, Coffee Grounds, Dunn Brothers, the Village Blend Coffee and Wine Bar, and The Acadia.

In concert style settings Bobb has performed for The Edge Life Expo at the Minneapolis Convention Center, Stonehenge Rocks and Rituals House Concert Series, the Wellstone World Music Day at Black Dog Café, the Woodbury Central Park Concert Series, Minneapolis' Summer Concert Series at both Minnehaha Falls and the Lake Harriet Bandshell, and the American Composers Forum Salon.

His CD, Sirocco - Winds of Passion, has received airplay on a variety of stations both nationally (KFAI in Minneapolis featured Bobb in an hour long live interview/performance) and internationally (the jazz station RCV 99 FM in Lille, France sent Bobb a copy of their playlist the first time "Dragonfly" was aired ... now he can say, "I got played with Miles Davis!")

Bobb has had the privilege of being the only musician to perform on the St. Paul Neighborhood Network's public television presentation "Open Mic at the Artist's Quarter" and of being selected as one of four new artists to be showcased by the New Folk Collective in 2005. Bobb also had the honor to compose and perform the music for the Pillsbury House Theatre's production of "An Almost Holy Picture" (which was rated third in the St. Paul Pioneer Press review of 2005).

Performing either as a solo artist or in ensemble (accompanied by various musicians playing drums, percussion, bass, cello, guitar, piano and silver flute), Bobb delivers performances that include a mix of jazz standards, improvisations, and original compositions that are suited to the occassion.

Bobb is a member of the International Native American Flute Association (INAFA) and the American Composers Forum (ACF) and is an affiliate of BMI.