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Robert Glasper Trio

Sunday, April 9 • 2pm

“There isn't a young musician with more buzz at the moment than Glasper.” —The New York Times

Fresh from the release of his eagerly awaited Blue Note debut CD, Canvas, New York pianist Robert Glasper is rapidly becoming a national phenomenon. “Robert Glasper has some of what we all need,” The New York Times wrote, “percussive intensity, fresh ideas, improvisatory logic. He's one to keep an eye on.”

Program Notes

When Robert Glasper signed to Blue Note Records last year, he was the first new instrumentalist the label had brought onboard in several years. That could have been daunting enough to make him feel the performance pressure of a rookie in a baseball pennant race. But as the 26-year-old pianist demonstrated on his label debut, Canvas, the music is all about being yourself and playing at the top of your game. The album has created a well-deserved buzz.

On the disc, Glasper gives an auspicious showing that reveals his prowess for lyricism as well as rhythmic adventure. He not only exhibits an Oscar Peterson-like dazzle but also slips hints of hip-hop into the beat. While the first half of the CD plays straight-ahead, side two shows Glasper’s expansive point of view, with a Fender Rhodes-led groove and two tunes featuring soul vocalist Bilal.

A Houston native based in New York, Glasper has worked with such jazz artists as Terence Blanchard and Mark Whitfield. But he’s also backed a range of pop artists, from Mos Def and Q-Tip to Meshell Ndegeocello and even Carly Simon.

“I’m a straight-ahead player who just happens to bring other influences like hip hop, gospel and R&B into the mix,” Glasper says. “When my trio plays live, we play straight-ahead but then play hip-hop-like interludes.”

Writing in The New York Times, Ben Ratliff raved about Glasper live, comparing his trio with those led by Jason Moran, Bill Charlap and Brad Mehldau. But, he added, “[Glasper’s] group has its own crisp, skittering cooperation, with hip-hop in its bounce. There was a daredevil aspect to the set as well, giving it urgency. He stretched each piece of music from the start, without losing the audience’s concentration.”

As for Blue Note label head Bruce Lundvall, who saw Glasper perform once and signed him on the spot, he’s optimistic about the young pianist’s future: “I’m convinced Robert has a real career ahead of him based on his bright, fresh compositional sense and his approach to playing, which is influenced by pop music.”

— Dan Ouellette