R.I.P ROBERT LOWE (b. July 1948 d. Dec 2013)

I only knew Robert for a few years, but he became a friend the moment I met him, in the Southfield [MI] Public Library about 6 years ago. As everyone knows, he was a friendly man with a warm smile, and once I heard him play - probably at Baker's Keyboard Lounge - I really loved his music. We spoke on the phone occasionally, and bumped into each other every once in a while in the library, where he was constantly working on music projects. I booked his quartette for the Jazz & Blues @ the Southfield Library series in April 2009; he was a big hit! And I saw him play a few other times - at Alvin's, The Dirty Dog Café, and Harbor House. We spoke by phone just a couple of weeks ago about his current music project and his book, which he was reworking. Though I didn't know him as long as his many musician friends, I valued his friendship, and I will miss him. And, I know that the Jazz world has lost a music man who was both talented and passionate. Here are a few pictures I took while enjoying his music.