Bobb Fantauzzo / JazZen


As a child growing up in Rochester, NY, Bobb Fantauzzo appeared to have limited musical ability: he was kicked out of band in elementary school for "keeping time by tapping with both feet" and his piano teacher quit following a recital in which "it sounded like Bobb was playing the music upside down".

Although he felt a need to create music for several years, Bobb didn't find the "right" instrument to do so until almost 40 years later when he was seduced by the sound of the Native American flute in 1998. Learning to play by emulating what he heard on recordings, Bobb soon realized that while he appreciated the "canyon" sound often heard on the flute, it was not the music he felt. It was not the music he wanted to express. It was not his voice.

Encouraged by R. Carlos Nakai during a workshop in 1999, Bobb started to explore his potential on the flute and began his journey of developing his personal voice: blending the soul of the Native American flute with the spirit of jazz - attempting to bring the flute out of the canyon and into the club.

Bobb began performing in public after moving to Minneapolis, MN from State College, PA in 2001 and released his first CD (Sirocco - Winds of Passion) in late 2003. In 2005 he was showcased by the New Folk Collective as one of four New Artists and was selected as one of the Rising Stars to be showcased at the Zion Canyon Flute Festival in 2007.

The title cut from Bobb's CD became the inspiration for the Eclectic Edge Ensemble's dance production of 'Sirocco'. In addition to collaborating on the soundtrack, Bobb performed live during the dance production which was staged at the Ritz Theater in July, 2007.

He still taps both feet when he plays.