"This collection of tunes aptly called "Interpretations" represents the solo debut on wax by a young artist who is musically mature far beyond the norm and usual expectations of a 28 year old (his age when this session was recorded). Bobby Floyd moved to Columbus in 1973 and soon after began to capture the eyes and ears of all who were fortunate enough to hear his dazzling keyboard artistry on piano and organ.

When I first heard Bobby, he was packing in a neighborhood crowd on Friday and Saturday nights at a local nightclub. With Bobby leading his own band there, the crowd grew larger, louder and more diverse as jazz lovers from all over Ohio flocked to see this young wizard of the keyboard. Never have I seen any audience respond to a jazz artist the way the audiences responded to Bobby Floyd. If you've never seen Bobby in person, you've missed out on a real treat as he twists his mouth, bobs and weaves his head sideward in a fit of musical ecstasy that audiences love to watch as well as hear.

Having paid his dues with a number of fine local artists over the years, it was to be expected that "the word" would eventually get out about this real talent. It is therefore no surprise that Bobby Floyd would perform throughtout the United States and Europe in the musical aggregations of Rusty Bryant, Jeff Tyzik and Ray Charles. And it is also fitting that his amazing pianisms would culminate in a solo album.

In "Interpretations", Bobby Floyd's inprovisatory statements bring to mind a reminiscense of Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson and Phineas Newborn (I realize this is some company!) in his virtuosic piano styling that can deliver clear, clean and precise notes at a double or triple time rate with two hands simultaneously that is truly mind boggling. In the process, Floyd has created his own "Sheets of Sound" -- yes, Bobby can do this! One need only listen to one of the eight interpretations presented here with such flawless execution.

The album "Interpretations" will always be a truly aesthetic experience for me because of its freedom in expression, delivery of technique and direct approach to an unrestrained color of pianistic artistry.

In a state that has already preduced the legendary Art Tatum, let all beware that another giant is in the making by the name of Bobby floyd. If this artistic effort represents the debut, lo and behold what he must be like now because he gets better and better. Suffice it to say that Bobby Floyd is destined to be a pleasant memory for all of us who love and appreciate the improvisational music of a genuine artist. "

"... Bobby Floyd on Organ and Keyboards: From my point of view, there exists no other pianist of my generation that has the stupendous command of his groove, (time feel) and dexterity, combined with 100% perfect pitch (this is realized in the avant-garde section of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"). Bobby's acute and consistent feel of time draws most musicians into his shear and powerful musical energy. ..."

"Pianist Floyd's new disc, (Floyd's) Finest Gift, consists of well-worn holiday tunes (Jingle Bells, The Christmas Song, Silent Night), but his playing is distinctive and graceful. He is accompanied by drummer Reggie Jackson, bassist Derek DiCenzo and others.

Floyd will perform with DiCenzo and Jackson on Saturday. The show will dovetail with Jazzy J's North's regularly scheduled Saturday jam session.

Admission is free.

"Thanks to Ray Paprocki's wonderfully insightful and informative article ['Jazzman' -- March], many, many more people will know the Bobby Floyd that we know.

One needn't go to the famed jazz clubs of larger cities to see and hear a brilliant jazz musician -- Bobby's here in our own back yard. The grass isn't always greener on the other side (of the fence)!"

'Many thanks for the recognition and finely written tribute to the greatest jazz pianist in the country ["Jazz Man" -- March].

We anxiously look forward to each Saturday, which is set aside for jazz -- listening to The Bobby Floyd Trio and open jam session. It begins 4 pm, at 6 pm the Classic Lounge open jam starts, and outstanding musicians who are there join Bobby's Trio for the love of music. Our magical evening continues at 9 pm in the "Rockford Room" at Salvi's Grandview In, enjoying the Trio and Saturday's guest artist until closing.

Bobby is truly a gifted musical genius who gives 200 percent talent, energy and love to his audience in music you can feel. He has been an inspiration to two of his music family members (young seniors), who are now pursuing saxophone instructions and realizing on of their dreams.

We know that one day our Bobby will be in demand for greater opportunities, perhaps in far away places. At that time, we will be selfishly devastated, for no one can fill his shoes.'

Jazzvoices will premiere at 10 p.m. Friday on WOSU-TV (Channel 34) with an hourlong concert by the Patrol.

The four-part contemporary jazz series was produced by WOSU and will include prerecored concerts by the Kim Pensyl Group (Oct. 11); the Bobby Floyd Trio (Oct. 18); and Standard Time (Oct. 20)...

... In 1993 Bobby Floyd told The Dispatch that pianist Erroll Garner was one of his biggest influences because "He executed difficult passages with ease and a 'feel-good' style like no other pianist. He was very unorthodox but very natural."

Much the same could be said about Floyd, who's been performing his blend of straight-ahead jaz, blues and funk for more than a decade with his trio and at weekly jazz-jams...

"... The high point of the orchestra's performance came during its last number, I'll Remember April. Pianist Bobby Floyd, making a guest appearance, ripped through an extended Joplinesque solo that left the other band members (as well as the audience) shaking their heads in appreciation."

When Bobby Floyd was only 2 years old, he crossed the line into a career.

Bobby's mother, Vera Floyd, was the pianist for the church choir at St. Paul's on North State Street. Mrs. Floyd convinced her husband Robert to buy a piano so she could practice at home. Neither of them could have imagined what that piano would do for their son's life.

"I went to Hardin's music store and brought this piano home and set it down,", said Mr. Floyd. "Now Bob was only 2 years old. This was in 1956 and Bob was so small he could hardly see. He had to get on his tiptoes to see the keys."

. Mrs. Floyd sat down that lay to start playing the new piano and Bobby kept getting n the way while trying to see chat his mother was doing. But as hard-as she tried, Mrs. Floyd just couldn't get Bobby sway from that piano. So Mr. loyd had to draw the line, literally.

Mr. Floyd remembers talking to his son that day. "I said, Hey, let me tell you somehing,' and I drew a line back bout ten feet from that piano and told the boy not to go beyond that line."

The Floyds had an unusual wakening the next morning. 'he songs Mrs. Floyd was laying the night before were card coming from the piano ownstairs. Mr. Floyd ran ownstairs to see who was in the house.

"I don't know how (Bobby) managed to climb up on that tool. With his two index fingers he was playing those church songs through real fast ad not missing a key," said In Floyd. That's when the Floyds got the message that their son must have some talent. The line that Bobby crossed was quickly erased.

Bobby Floyd's view of his amazing beginning is that his was a "natural, God-given talent." It was a talent many teachers didn't believe Floyd had.

The Floyds tried to find a teacher for their son when he was between three and four years old. But the teachers they approached just didn't believe their story and would n't even let Bobby sit down and play. It wasn't until Bobby was 5 years old that the family found Mrs. -L. T, Dukes.

Dukes agreed to try a couple lessons with Floyd. After those two lessons, she wouldn't let the Floyds even think about taking the young pianist away from her teaching. Dukes tutored Floyd for nearly three years before admitting that she had taught the young pianist all she could.

Floyd began studying with Maury Kline, a music teacher at Harding High School, and stayed with Kline through high school.

During his years at Harding, Floyd kept busy playing in the Bobby Floyd Trio with classmates Bruce Burton and Bob Breithaupt. Breithaupt now serves as the chair of Capital University's Department of Jazz Studies and Music Industry and head of the percussion area. "We put (the trio) together before we could drive," said Breithaupt. "We were all about 15 years old so our parents would have to take us to the gigs. And we, played in a lot of places that most parents would not want their kids to play in these days. We did a lot of pri vate parties but we also played a lot at the old Keg and Vine and the Portafino Lounge."

Floyd and Breithaupt still get the chance to play togeth er. Breithaupt has been the percussionist for the Columbus Jazz Orchestra since 1981 and Floyd has had an ongoing relationship with the orchestra for a number of years. Breithaupt, who's played with musicians all around the world, described Floyd as one of the most talented people he's ever worked with.

Floyd's talent has taken him around the world. He has opened for artists including Sarah Vaughan and Glen Campbell and toured the U.S. and Europe with Ray Charles.

During a break in the tour with Charles, Floyd's daughter Bobbie was born. When the call came to head back for the tour, Floyd said no thanks. He would stay home to be with his family from that point forward.

Floyd, who was unavailable for comment, said in a press release he now stays close to the Powell home he shares with his wife, Marilyn, and their daughter. He can regularly be found playing prominent jazz clubs in the Columbus area.

Marion residents will get the chance to hear Floyd play when he kicks off The Ohio State University at Marion "Five Nights On Campus" series Thursday. Floyd will be joined by drummer Tony McClung, bass and guitar player Derek DiCenzo and violinist Christian Howes. Thursday evening performance begins at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets, are $7 general admission and $3 for students. For more information on the "Five Nights On Campus" series, call The Ohio State University at Marion at (740) 389-0SUM.

In the glorious cacophony of last week's jazz around town, Bobby Floyd dominated at the Columbus Jazz Orchestra's "Gershwin'n' Gumbo" show at the Southern Theatre, guestconducted by Ray Eubanks.

Floyd would have been the star of the weekend-long show if we'd heard only his deep set of variations on "Someone to Watch Over Me" early in the program, or the "I Got Rhythm" that wound things up. But his masterpiece was the personalized version of "Rhapsody in Blue." ...

... Floyd's approach, which included partly improvised cadenzas that varied stunningly from night to night, was one for the books. From moment to moment, he struck multicolored fire while proving, once again, that he knows how to rework his material so that it tells one story.

The skillful arrangement by Vaughn Wiester was supposed to sound like what Gershwin might write nowadays. Maybe, if Gershwin worked in a "modern" big-band style, about two-thirds as old as the piece itself.

Whew. One huge weekend of hot local music-at 2Co's, the 5:01 and Dick's Den.

Saturday night, Bobby Floyd took over 2Co's for his CD release party. Floyd, bassist Derek DiCenzo and drummer Tony McClung have developed ESP from working together for years. But they never sounded better than they did Saturday.

If you had the right seat, you could watch Floyd's fingers gobble up the keys of the big Yamaha while his silhouette, etched on the wall by the stage lights, bobbed and weaved in sync with him. He unleashed truly awesome piano chops all night, but never more than on the totally over-the-top version of Mercy, Mercy.

The guy never twiddles the keyboard with gussied up-tinkles and runs. He always has something to say.