Rob Landes, pianist

Pianist Rob Landes has one of the great résumés in the annals of Houston music: He played with psychedelic rockers Fever Tree and taught at TUTS’ Humphreys School of Musical Theater, while his long-running jazz trio entertained the city’s high-society circuit for years. At one memorable ball, they set up among the enormous dinosaur skeletons at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Landes has also been the organist and artist-in-residence for St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in River Oaks since 1996. According to him, though, the place he most enjoys playing is The Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston. He even helped the historic theater replace its grand piano after Hurricane Ike.

“First of all, the audiences are just fantastic,” he says. “I’ve built a big following down there, and they come to hear good, first-rate music; and that’s exactly what I hope I’m offering to them. The second thing is the vehicle itself. The Grand is my favorite venue of all the places I’ve played over the years. Maureen runs a first-class organization.”

“Maureen” is Maureen Patton, The Grand’s executive director, and the feeling is mutual. “Rob is not only a gifted musician,” she says, “but one who has the personality to match the talent and so much love in his heart for music, but also people.”

Source: Rob Landes, pianist