Rob Kohler

Raised in Montana, Kohler often performed music with his parents and siblings in his youth.^[1] He began playing bass at age 12. He has listed Jon Entwistle, Eberhard Weber, and Jaco Pastorius as early influences.^[2]

Kohler has performed with artists such as Danny Gottlieb, Taylor Eigsti, John Stowell, Ambrose Akinmusire, Fabian Almazan, Anton Schwartz, and Leon "Ndugu" Chancler.^[3] With his older brother Lee Kohler, he was a founding member of the band In Flight in 1985. In Flight grew popular in Montana and performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1989.^[4] After disbanding in 1990, Lee and Rob reformed the group in 1995 under the name This World. They released an eponymous album in 1996, produced by Cookie Marenco.^[5]

Kohler has been associated with Oregon-based Folk singer Alice Di Micele since 2000, appearing on several of her albums and touring with her often.^[6] Kohler works often with local Pacific Northwest musicians such as Olem Alves, Ann Tappan, and Jared Burrows.^[7] Since 2018, Kohler has toured with Halie Loren.^[8] With the Peterson Kohler Collective, Kohler released the acclaimed album Winter Colors in the winter of 2019.^[1]

Kohler began teaching at the Stanford Jazz Workshop in 1991. He was education director at SJW from 2006–2007.^[4][9] Kohler also taught at NOCCA in New Orleans, Louisiana, implementing a Middle School Jazz program there that lasted until 2009.^[10] He has been an instructor at the annual South Delta Jazz Workshop in Ladner, BC since 2003.^[11] In 2013, Kohler wrote and published a text book on Beginner Jazz Theory, entitled Music Theory from A to G.^[12]

Kohler's brother Lee Kohler and sister Kate Kohler are also prominent musicians, and the three collaborate often.^[1] Formerly based in Eugene, New Orleans, and Los Angeles, Kohler returned to Montana in 2014 and currently resides in Great Falls.^[13] He has three children.