Band Members
(Core Members)
Bob Jacobson (sax, clarinet, flute) learned sax and clarinet from his uncle and in public schools in Rhode Island. He has played in numerous jazz, R&B, classic rock and salsa bands.
Bob played in big band concerts led by master musicians Carl Grubbs & Julius Hemphill (jazz) and Eddie Palmieri (Latin). Four of his compositions appear in The Baltimore Real Book.
He developed and has led Baltimore Jazz Alliance's Jazz for Kids program.
Ron McCadden (guitar, vocals) was taught by his multi-instrumentalist/singer father, is mostly self-taught and has studied improvisation.
He played solo throughout Colorado and Florida before returning to Maryland. He played in the Harford Community College Jazz Ensemble
and performed two years at Café Troia in Towson.
(Sidemen)
(Bass) Larry Kinling has been a first-call player on the Baltimore jazz scene since the 1980s. He has played with internationally-known jazz musicians Albert Dailey, Gary Thomas, Gary Bartz and local legends Mickey Fields, Arnold Sterling and Andy Ennis. Larry played every Sunday for seventeen years at Kelsey's in Ellicott City.
(Bass) Tom Hensler played professionally for eight years, primarily rock and disco. For the past ten years he has focused on jazz, studying with Jeff Reed (Towson University faculty).
(Drums) Darrell Taylor has played with numerous jazz groups in Baltimore since the 1980s, including the Fuzzy Kane Trio. He appeared as a percussionist in Center Stage's production of The Colored Museum, with vocalist Ruby Glover.
(Vocals) Rhonda Robinson leads her own jazz combos and performs regularly for Jazz Vespers. With Sounds Good she has performed entire shows of Brazilian music but also presents a wide range of jazz.
Piano may be substituted for guitar. Pianist Derrick Thompson studied music at Morehouse College and privately with Stanley Cowell. He has been music director for vocalist Lea Gilmore, Encore Theater and several churches. He and Bob Jacobson have played at numerous private functions, hotels, art shows and libraries (with vocalist Terry Burks).
About Sounds Good
Since 1995, Sounds Good has conveyed a strong musical message with as few as two pieces or as many as five, depending on the performance situation.
Beyond our duo format we draw from a pool of very talented, experienced musicians. Sounds Good plays swing, Brazilian, Latin, blues, ballads, jazz standards, early R&B, and a bit of pop and rock. The band has played light classical music for wedding ceremonies. Sounds Good's vast performance history includes eight years at Donna's Café in Columbia, Maryland. They appear on two CDs, Baltimore Jazzscapes and Baltimore Jazzscapes II.
