About The Giving Tree Band

Leon Bibi (drums / percussion / vocals)

Over the 30 years he’s played drums and percussion, Leon’s had the pleasure of working with Carly Simon (1983-1984), Gridlock (1986-1989), The King Bees, (2004-2005) and Hot Lava (2006). Leon and Chick have been friends for over twenty years, while Leon and Rob, who played together in Hot Lava, go back about fifteen years. His charitable foundation is The ALS Association, which works to alleviate amnio lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Brian Clifford (lead guitar / vocals)

If the truth be told, Brian learned most all of what he knows about music from playing with the Travis Allison Band. He and Rob have been friends for more than the last decade, and his charitable foundation is The Wounded Warrior Project.

Although Matt grew up playing the drums on garbage cans in the garage, he managed to transfer his natural street rhythm to his guitar playing. And keeping true to his musical roots, he's done some of his best work in some of the worst bars, having played places from Richmond to Bermuda, some no longer in business. Matt’s charity is The Coalition for the Homeless

Rebecca Haviland (lead vocals)

Rebecca Haviland has been surrounded by music her entire life. Her grandmother was a piano player and teacher; her grandfather a swing drummer. She began to write her own music at the age of twelve and first experienced the local music scene when her father took her out to see her uncles play in rock and roll / blues bands. There she became familiar with the blues style that would have the biggest impact on her songwriting. She began to sing in church and taught herself how to play guitar. At college, she toyed with opera and jazz studies, but ultimately focused on studio composition (recording and songwriting). An internship at Acme Recording Studios lead to an introduction to a wonderful folk singer named Sloan Wainwright, who pushed for producers Peter Denenberg and Joe Bonadio to hear the music of this talented girl who had been making coffee and taking out the garbage. The two producers fell in love with her voice and her songs, and gave her the opportunity to record her music professionally. Her first studio recording, "Taking Advice From Strangers," was independently released in 2005, followed by "Three Thousand Miles" in 2007.

An up-and-coming singer/songwriter, Rebecca’s voice is most often compared to Norah Jones and Fiona Apple, and her songs combine many different genres of music, including folk, rock, pop, and jazz. She plays shows up and down the east coast and has performed in New York City at such famed venues as The Bitter End, The Living Room, The Cutting Room, and The Red Lion, and with The Giving Tree, the Mercury Lounge, the Canal Room, and the Stephen Talkhouse.

Rob Kaimowitz (drums / percussion / vocals)

Rob Kaimowitz has been a drummer since 1977. In 1981, he started drumming in a band called CPW, which included keyboardist and fraternity brother Marc Weiner. Time passed and ultimately, Rob founded and now serves as CEO of Bull Path Capital Management in NYC. Around 2005 he started drumming again, eventually playing with fellow drummer Leon Bibi in Hot Lava. Kaimowitz and Weiner (and CPW bassist Rick Cantor) played together in the Bull Path Jammers at the A Leg To Stand On Benefit in October 2006 at B.B. King’s Blues Club on 42nd Street. Shortly afterward, Rob founded The Giving Tree by bringing together these friends and musicians. The charity that Rob is playing for is The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which advocates the needs of those with spinal cord injuries and paralysis.