Gulf Coast Jazz fans line up to help local musician Rob Willmann break into the national music scene

MOBILE, AL. (gulf City Lodge press release) - Jazz artist Rob Willmann gears up for a big show in Portland, Ore., by putting on a benefit concert in his hometown to raise awareness and money for his upcoming break in the music biz.
"Going to Portland to sit in with the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey will definitely put my name out there and get some industry execs to take notice," says Rob, a Mobile, AL native.

The Rob Willmann Trio performs a special ONE-NIGHT-ONLY concert at the Gulf City Lodge in Mobile, AL on July 6th, 2004. Special Guest Debbie "The Delta Diva" provides sultry vocals for a night of hot jazz, funk grooves and cool ballads.

Actively performing all over the Gulf Coast, Rob's a percussionist with the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Pensacola Symphony and the Northwest Florida Symphony; performs jazz with his trio every Sunday at Copeland's restaurant in west Mobile; teaches drums at the University of Mobile; and has played many shows around Mobile including sitting in with Carlos Washington last March at Soul Kitchen.

Proceeds from the show help send Rob to Portland, Ore., to sit in with the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey on July 10, 2004.

The local benefit show has already drawn much local support, including a feature article in the Mobile Press Register's Bay Weekend Section on July 2nd.
"The show is sure to be a hit," says Rob. "The last show we played at the Gulf City Lodge in April was a big success, and I'm hoping the crowd will be even bigger this time around.
The travel costs to send me and my instruments to Portland are rather high, and I'm hoping to pack the club, thanks to all the local press I've received."

Recap of Event:
Rob Willmann Trio
w/ special Guest: Debbie Bivens 'The Delta Diva'
Tuesday July 6th, 2004
@ The Gulf City Lodge
601 State Street, Mobile, AL
Show is at 8:00pm
Doors Open at 6:00pm
Cost: $10.00 at the door

The show will be RECORDED and CD's from the show will be available for download on the trio's website.
The Rob Willmann Trio will perform many of their original funk groove tunes, as well as songs by Miles Davis, John Scofield, MMW, etc. The trio features Rob Willmann on MalletKAT (a MIDI version of the vibraphone), Shane Palmer on Drums (Shane is Rob's brother), and local bassist Nic Carroll. Debbie Bivens will be singing with the trio during the 2nd set.