A busy freelancer throughout most of his career, Bob Maize can be counted on to offer stimulating support and inventive yet subtle solos. After starting piano studies at age seven, Maize switched to bass, which he began playing professionally at age 13. He moved to San Francisco in 1963 and soon worked in the house bands at Soulville and Bop City. Maize played with Sonny Stitt, Philly Joe Jones, Jon Hendricks and in a rock band (on electric bass). He was in San Francisco for years, gigging with Mose Allison, Herb Ellis, Monty Alexander and Anita O'Day, among many others. Maize eventually relocated to Los Angeles, but there was no slowing of his musical activities. He recorded regularly for Concord as a sideman in the '70s and '80s (including with Scott Hamilton, Dave McKenna, Tal Farlow and the Concord All-Stars), played with Horace Silver from 1983-84, toured Japan with Sarah Vaughan in 1985, and has kept quite busy on the West Coast in hard bop-oriented settings. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi