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Friday, 09 January 2009

The Robert Glasper Trio at the Vanguard, July 24th-29th

Written by Ronaldo Oregano

Saturday, 21 July 2007

Robert Glasper
"There isn't a young musician with more buzz at the moment than Glasper... His trio deserves comparison with the best of the newer piano trios, those led by Jason Moran, Bill Charlap and Brad Mehldau... his group has its own crisp, skittering cooperation, with hip hop in its bounce." - The New York Times

A little over a year and a half since his Village Vanguard debut, Robert Glasper will return with his trio featuring Vicente Archer on bass, and Chris Dave on drums for a six night engagement from July 24th through Sunday, July 29th. As a pianist, Glasper possesses a mesmerizing melodic sense and an awe-inspiring technique, but also has the innate sense to know exactly which is needed at a given moment. He’s absorbed all the standard influences (Tyner, Hancock, Corea, Jarrett) and yet he exhibits a sound that’s undeniably Glasper, his delicate touch and harmonic sense as recognizable as any of the aforementioned masters. Having made a name for himself in both jazz & hip hop circles (working with everyone from Terence Blanchard, Wallace Roney & Roy Hargrove to DJ Val, Q-Tip & Mos Def), the 29-year old pianist Robert Glasper had his major label debut, CANVAS, which was released in 2005 on Blue Note Record.

Robert Glasper was raised in Houston, Texas. His mother was his first and strongest musical influence. Mrs. Glasper not only played piano and sang gospel music in the family's church, she led a band that worked the city's jazz and blues club circuit as well. By the age of twelve, young Robert was playing piano in that church. "Gospel music is built on emotion and spirituality; you go to church and leave crying," he smiles. "It definitely just gave me that sensitivity and knowing how to reach people and knowing how to be in tune with your feelings and the emotion of the music. My thing is, it helps me relate to the audience 'cause they're gonna give you what you give them. When you bring the crowd into your world, you can do anything you want."

Robert Glasper

By the time he reached adolescence, Robert knew his destiny was to be a jazz musician. He was accepted to the Houston's famed High School for the Performing Arts ("Jason Moran went there before me."). Post-graduation, Glasper enrolled at New School University in Manhattan. Soon after arrival, he hooked up with future band member Reid and vocalist Bilal, an old schoolmate. As an undergrad, Glasper gigged with Christian McBride, Russell Malone and Kenny Garrett. Professional life after the New School was even sweeter: stints with Nicholas Payton, Roy Hargrove, Terence Blanchard, Carmen Lundy, and Carly Simon.

The Bilal connection brought the pianist back to hip-hop. Glasper's contributions to Bilal's debut and subsequent tour brought him to the attention of Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest). "Tip would come hang out at my shows, and one day he called me and said, 'I'm doing this tour and I need you to play keys. Can you do it?'". He's also since played with Mos Def, and is featured prominently on Bilal's forthcoming sophomore release.

In 2003, Glasper's first album Mood was released on indie label Fresh Sound New Talent, and two years later, Blue Note came calling. At Blue Note, Glasper joined a jazz piano legacy that stretches back to 1939, beginning with Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis, and continuing through Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Andrew Hill, Cecil Taylor, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Jacky Terrasson, Jason Moran and Bill Charlap.

The Robert Glasper Trio with Vicente Archer on bass, and Chris Dave on drums will perform from July 24th through Sunday, July 29th at the Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave S (Below W 11th St.) 212-255-4037. For directions and details, visit the Village Vanguard website at: www.villagevanguard.net.

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