Guitarist/bandleader Robert Tye holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music with honors, a solid foundation but just the beginning of what is becoming a distinguished career.

He studied classical guitar with the legendary Joe Fava, who often threw in ideas about jazz improvisation during his lessons. Robert studied hard and in addition to the electric, acoustic and 12-string guitars, has mastered instruments like the fretless, slide and baritone guitars, the tenor banjo, dobro and mandolin. He is also a published author, writing articles for Guitar World magazine.

Although Robert's new album, "Virtues of the Well", is his first national release, you may already have indirectly heard his guitar work on TV in commercials for many fortune 500 companies like Nike, B.F. Goodrich, Kellogg's, Whirlpool, Meijer and the big three car companies.

His broad musical background and versatility as a performer is evident in the company he has kept. Organizations such as the Detroit & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestras, Detroit Symphony Jazz Quartet, Michigan Opera Theatre and Monte Carlo Ballet. Other individuals include Erich Kunzel, Neeme Jarvi and Bill Conti.

But Robert's heart lies elsewhere. He loves to improvise and credits his influences as Django Reinhard, Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino and Jim Hall. He also continues to perform regularly at the Montreux Detroit Jazz, Frog Island Jazz and Blues and Flint Jazz Festivals.

Robert has performed behind and opened for the likes of Steps Ahead, The Jazz Messengers, Earl Klugh, Maynard Ferguson, Stanley Clarke, Randy Brecker, Bela Fleck, Tom Wopat, Sir Roland Hanna, John Blake, Eddie Daniels, David Liebman and Mike Stern to name but a few.

For a debut album, "Virtues of the Well", is extraordinarily memorable. His compositions show a romantic and playful side as well as a desire to stretch the limits of contemporary jazz idioms.