“Whenever he focused
on the Spiritual side of his repertoire, whether playing tenor or
soprano saxophone, Maletick projected a much more distinctive and
personal sound”. Washington Post reporter Mike Joyce on Rob’s
January 2001 performance at Blues Alley.
Rob Maletick is a native of the Washington D.C. area. Growing up around
places like Blues Alley and the Kennedy Center (where Rob played for
President Clinton) put Rob in an environment that surrounded him in a
wide variety of musical styles from Classical to Jazz to R&B and
Gospel. This experience is what brought about the creation of Rob’s
unique style of Christian Jazz, a style that has biblical value yet is
heard on contemporary jazz radio.
Rob comes from a family of musicians, his father a guitar player, and
mother a pianist. Both are public school music teachers. Rob’s first
experience with the saxophone was in the 6th grade when he saw Kenny G
perform on television. This sparked a musical interest in Rob and soon
he was able to display his raw musical talent in the Osbourn High School
band. Participating and wining awards for competitions and talent shows,
he quickly gained local recognition as a prominent musician.
Rob attended Shenandoah University where he studied Music Business and
Jazz Performance. While attending S.U., Rob studied saxophone with
renowned teacher and performer Joseph Eckert (USAF Airmen of Note). It
was in the Jazz Ensemble that Rob had the opportunity to perform with
Randy Brecker, Billy Taylor, Chris Vadala, and the late Bob Berg. This
ensemble also toured Europe and Asia, setting the groundwork for Rob’s
love of traveling and touring abroad.
During his college experience Rob represented S.U. at the International
Association of Jazz Educators national convention, in 1995, where he
crossed paths with fellow saxophonist Kirk Whalum. It was at Mr.
Whalum’s clinic on “Making it in the Music Business” that Rob
realized his gift of playing the saxophone was to be used to bring
God’s message of Unconditional Love to as many people as possible.
Rob has released three recordings of his own, and has appeared on
recordings for countless other artists, always willing to share God’s
gift of music with anyone. You can see Rob and his band opening concerts
for the Neville Brothers, Donnie McClurkin, Spyro Gyra, or jamming with
rap artist Coolio on the TV show 8101 where Rob served as musical
director.