Bob Erdman

Bob Erdman - Erdman Measurement Consulting
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Bob Erdman - Erdman Measurement Consulting

Bob Erdman
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Bob ErdmanErdman Measurement ConsultingSensimeas@aol.com

Erdman Measurement ConsultingPresident

Bob has over 40 years experience in making sensitive measurements and managing related projects, mainly at Keithley Instruments, the leading manufacturer of very sensitive electronic measuring instruments.He has designed the most sensitive Ammeter and Voltmeter commercially available, advised many scientists on difficult measurement problems and worked with Scientists and Architects to design nanotechnology buildings.

Bob Erdman: The Adventures of Pearly Bob

Bob Erdman was delighted that the EARLYJAS club moved its monthly meetings to the Hudson American Legion.It's barely a mile from the house he's owned for 30+ years.The house is an historic site because it was in that very basement that the Sorta Forties band was born. (More on that later.)Some years ago, Bill Parthe and Ralph Grugel started calling Bob Erdman 'Pearly Bob'.
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Why? 'Cuz Bob liked to play that Jelly Roll Morton masterpiece, "The Pearls".Bob likes Morton's music but he really likes the West Coast genre of Turk Murphy and the South Frisco Jazz Band.That rompin' stompin' style is Bob's forte and he is known privately among his fellow musicians as that "Left Handed Monster" of thepiano.Read on.

On the one hand classical music is an important part of his past.He started piano at age seven and continued with lessons through high school.He especially loved Brahms, Chopin, and Beethoven sonatas.He stopped lessons for awhile - maybe 40 years!Then he resumed lessons at the Cleveland Institute of Music; his teacher
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When James died Bob continued with Arlene
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Bob grew up on the edge of the Ohio State campus and graduated from OSU with a degree in Electrical Engineering.Later he got an MS in Physics from John Carroll.He moved to the Cleveland area in 1962 to work with Keithley Instruments.Retired from Keithley in 2000, he formed Erdman Measurements Consulting in 2001. Bob's years with Keithley were exciting from a jazz point of view.From the early 80's Bob was in International Marketing with Keithley.That job took him all over the world. (He's still trying to use up his Frequent Traveler miles!) He found and sat in with traditional jazz bands in a dozen countries or more.Bob, in spite of being a shy, retiring sort of guy, was able to strike up acquaintances with musicians all over the world.

While at OSU, Bob stumbled into the North Heidleberg Bar near the campus.There were a bunch of college kids drinking and singing frat songs accompanied by a piano player.Bob talked to the piano player, sat in, and was hired.Terrible piano: out of tune, only 66 keys, no ivory.Avoid Middle E, there's a nail sticking up! While in Columbus, Bob got to play music with John Arimond, Joe Cavalier, Terry Waldo.
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Shortly after arriving in the Cleveland area, Bob went out exploring and sat in with Ralph Grugel at the
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Bob subbed on piano when Ralph opened up the Flats playing at Fagan's.
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Pressures of job and family forced Bob to back off the jazz/bar scene for a few years.Then in the mid 70's he
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called Bob to play at the Monticello Bar with John Bittence, bass; Ted Witt, clarinet; Dick Petcher, cornet.
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various times, Bob played at the Lobster Pot, Cleveland Crate and Trucking, and the Market Street Exchange.Bob's most significant, long term jazz relationship has been with the Earlville Jazz Band.In the 1970's Don Bentley opened the Rusty Nail to musicians and jam sessions.From those sessions emerged the Earlville JB. Still going strong after 30+ years, Bob was the first and only regular piano player.

1987. Ted Witt and Bob go to New York to attend Turk Murphy's one and only Carnegie Hall concert. (Editor'
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Bob was the original pianist. (Note: Night Owls play the 2nd Sunday at the Barking Spider.)Plug from the Shameless Commerce Division: Bob and I recently released a CD called 'Original Rags' which showcases his wonderful playing.Check out www.philcartwright.info for details.What's next for Bob?He plans to continue improving his classical playing, which helps the jazz, and have all the fun he can playing jazz.
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The first rehearsal was in Bob Erdman's basement.They had neglected to tell him that Bob was the piano player.