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Robert Glasper

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 says. "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."

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 bandmember 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 joins 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. Undaunted, Glasper reflects, “I’m just happy to be a part of the Blue Note family and its rich history.”

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Laila Biali
piano and vocals
Tyrone Birkett
saxophone, alto
Brandon Robertson
bass, acoustic
Maziyar Khavajiyan
bass, electric
ctraltu
trumpet
Velocity
band / orchestra
Julian Hartwell
keyboards
Karolis Šarkus
saxophone, alto
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bass, acoustic
Seba Molnar
saxophone, tenor
Anton Chekurov
saxophone, alto
Nadine Axisa
voice / vocals
Nimbus Sextet
band / orchestra
Ikechi Onyenaka
saxophone, alto
Jatayu
band / orchestra
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drums
Eric Zabala
vibraphone
Minus2
keyboards
Sahib Singh
guitar, electric
Ryan Marquez
piano and vocals
City of Four
band / orchestra

Photos

Concert Schedule

Oct 31 Tue

Album Discography

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Contact

Music Factory Records
2022

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R+R=NOW - Live (Blue...

Blue Note Records
2021

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Canvas

Blue Note Records
2019

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Black Radio 2

Blue Note Records
2013

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Black Radio

Blue Note Records
2012

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