Wagon Wheels and Atom Bombs by The Rob Sbar Noesis

He presents a unified, cumulative sensory and arts experience, incorporating the mediums of sound with written and spoken word, and often visual concepts.

Rob Sbar has been described by critics as a "compositional genius." "A guitarist of frightening ability. Wagon Wheels and Atom Bombs [CD] is a superb first release from one of the world's truly creative musical innovators," says music critic Mike Sandomirsky.

Rob Sbar resides in New York City. He began playing professionally at age 16, doing session work and performing as part of Philadelphia's alternative and indie rock scene. From this early age, he established himself among the top composers/ arrangers and guitarists in the local scene. Already a well-known artist, Rob attended the National Guitar Summer Workshop, New Milford, Connecticut, to diversify his skills.

After studying fine art at Temple University's Tyler School of Art, Rob received a Bachelor of Music degree summa cum laude, studying jazz guitar and composition/arranging as well as completing the honors program at Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music. There, he studied jazz guitar with Tom Giacobetti and Ed Flanagan; jazz composition/arranging with Don Glanden, Ben Schacter and Larry McKenna; and classical composition with Matthew Greenbaum, Ph.D., Maurice Wright, D.M.A., Richard Brodhead, Ph.D. and Mark Rimple, D.M.A. Rob also conducted/arranged the School's Jazz Vocal Ensemble. Rob received a Masters of Arts degree in music composition at Rutgers University, studying with world renowned, Pulitzer Prize winning composer Charles Wuorinen. Rob also studied guitar privately with Shrapnel recording artist Greg Howe and Laser's Edge recording artist Scott McGill.

Rob's influences range from such guitar virtuosos as Allan Holdsworth, Steve Vai, Greg Howe, Shawn Lane and John McLaughlin, as well as modern jazz composers John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. He also draws influence from contemporary classical composers Stefan Wolpe, Elliot Carter, Charles Wuorinen, John Zorn, and alternative rock icons Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü), Robert Smith (The Cure) and Sonic Youth.

Rob's commissions include composing, conducting and performing the music for a modern dance presentation in collaboration with celebrated choreographer Julia Ritter, entitled Sirens. A blend of jazz, classical and contemporary music written for a large ensemble, Rob conducted and performed on guitar. Rob also wrote, arranged and performed original music and lyrics for a United Way advertising campaign that aired on radio and television. He also was commissioned to write a modern composition for Renaissance lute, A Mosaic of Cement and Barbed Wire, performed at the Sarah Lawrence Summer Guitar Institute.

Rob's piece, Like Giants Through a Keyhole, trio for flute cello and piano, was performed as part of the CROSS-CURRENTS IN JAZZ AND NEW MUSIC: The School and Schooling of Stefan Wolpe series presented by the Network for New Music in cooperation with the Stefan Wolpe Society. Rob was selected among an exclusive group of young composers worldwide to participate in the June in Buffalo Festival for Emerging Composers held in Buffalo, New York. There, renowned pianist Marilyn Nonken performed Rob's solo piano piece, Aerial Surveying. Rob also attended master classes with celebrated composers Aaron Jay Kernis, Harvey Sollberger, Jukka Tiensuu, David Felder, and guitar master classes with Magmus Andersson.

Rob, an accomplished teacher of guitar, music theory, composition and arranging, has developed his own personal teaching concepts and methods for improving technique and chord/scale theory for various styles and genres of music. He is also known as a freelance, live, studio and sessions guitarist, composer and arranger.

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