Always an influence by stealth, Bob Dorough's sly, intimate voice and elegant piano are as highly regarded by his peers (Miles Davis was a fan, Mose Allison a follower) as by the countless children he has encouraged to enjoy math, thanks to his warm and witty musical creations for the cartoon Schoolhouse Rock! In performance, his is not an impudent or crude form of jazz. Often he appears to be whispering songs directly into your ear, softly hipping you to his jive, while the band plays quietly in the corner of the room, as though trying not to interrupt a private moment.