Robert Conti Debuts Hot New Band At All That Jazz

Robert Conti’s performance at last years Jacksonville Jazz Festival was one of the high points of the event.  Indeed, Conti is a jazz guitar master, and along with contemporaries like Joe Pass and Kenny Burrell, he has maintained a high level of artistry over the years. . .

A Review by Rick Grant

Without compromising his roots in bebop, Conti has always kept up with the times, producing a respectable selling commercial album, “Latin Love Affair,” as well as producing a growing catalog of audiophile discs for the jazz guitar aficionado.  Yes, despite the overwhelming popularity of rock, Conti has stayed in the jazz business, gaining new fans and admirers as he continues to record and perform live – mostly in California.  But we may be seeing more of Jacksonville’s native world class jazz guitarist in the future.  Conti told me backstage at his All That Jazz gig on August 7th, that he is encouraged by the ongoing expansion of Jacksonville, both in population and artistic consciousness.  His two night stand at the local jazz club was sparcely attended Friday night, but it was standing room only at the Saturday…