Marcus Roberts
Encyclopedia
Marcus Roberts is an American
jazz
pianist
who has achieved fame as a stride pianist committed to celebrating classic standards and jazz traditions. Roberts has also distinguished his solos by accompanying himself with walking basslines. He thus creates a more two-fisted style than is found elsewhere in modern jazz, and his basslines are also convincingly spontaneous. Roberts interprets Thelonious Monk, bringing creative dissonances to Monk's compositions.
, alma mater of another distinguished musician, Ray Charles
. Roberts began playing piano at an early age and then studied the instrument with world-renowned pianist Leonidas Lipovetsky, while attending Florida State University
. In 1985, he got his big break when famed trumpeter Wynton Marsalis
chose him as his new sideman. He became a close friend and disciple of Marsalis, and collaborated with him on many projects during the ensuing years.
With Marsalis' support and soon after joining him, Roberts began cutting his own records. His albums tend to be homages to past jazz greats. However, his playing ability and technique have always been highly regarded and his music has added to the vocabulary of modern jazz piano and the piano trio.
On a piece such as "Nebuchadnezzar" Roberts uses the traditional harmonies and chords, then builds an expansive tonal and melodic structure. He is renowned as an interpreter of Monk, Ellington, Morton and Gershwin, among others. He provided the soundtrack to the 1999 film Guinevere
.
Roberts serves as Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies in the music program at Florida State University
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
who has achieved fame as a stride pianist committed to celebrating classic standards and jazz traditions. Roberts has also distinguished his solos by accompanying himself with walking basslines. He thus creates a more two-fisted style than is found elsewhere in modern jazz, and his basslines are also convincingly spontaneous. Roberts interprets Thelonious Monk, bringing creative dissonances to Monk's compositions.
Biography
Blind since his youth, he attended the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, FloridaSt. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
, alma mater of another distinguished musician, Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
. Roberts began playing piano at an early age and then studied the instrument with world-renowned pianist Leonidas Lipovetsky, while attending Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. In 1985, he got his big break when famed trumpeter Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
chose him as his new sideman. He became a close friend and disciple of Marsalis, and collaborated with him on many projects during the ensuing years.
With Marsalis' support and soon after joining him, Roberts began cutting his own records. His albums tend to be homages to past jazz greats. However, his playing ability and technique have always been highly regarded and his music has added to the vocabulary of modern jazz piano and the piano trio.
On a piece such as "Nebuchadnezzar" Roberts uses the traditional harmonies and chords, then builds an expansive tonal and melodic structure. He is renowned as an interpreter of Monk, Ellington, Morton and Gershwin, among others. He provided the soundtrack to the 1999 film Guinevere
Guinevere (film)
Guinevere is a film about the artistic and romantic relationship between a young student and her older mentor.The film was written and directed by Audrey Wells and stars Stephen Rea, Sarah Polley, Jean Smart, and Gina Gershon. The running time is 105 minutes. The film was a 1999 Sundance Film...
.
Roberts serves as Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies in the music program at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
.
As leader
- The Truth Is Spoken Here (1988)
- Deep in the ShedDeep in the ShedDeep in the Shed is the second studio album by the blind jazz pianist Marcus Roberts, a protégé of trumpet player Wynton Marsalis. The album features Roberts playing chords on his left hand and "somewhat dark improvisations that burst into fireworks less often than you'd expect" with his right hand...
(1989) - Alone with Three Giants (1990)
- Prayer for Peace (1991)
- As Serenity Approaches (1991)
- If I Could Be with You (1993)
- Gershwin for Lovers (1994)
- Portraits in Blue (1995)
- Plays Ellington (1995)
- Time and Circumstance (1996)
- Blues for the New Millennium (1997)
- The Joy of Joplin (1998)
- In Honor of Duke (1999)
- Cole after Midnight (2001)
- A Gershwin Night (2003)
- George Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F (2006)
- New Orleans Meets Harlem, Volume 1 (2007)
- A Touch of Romance (2007)
- From Rags to Rhythm (2007)
As sideman
WIth Wynton MarsalisWynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
- The Majesty of the BluesThe Majesty of the BluesThe Majesty of the Blues is a 1989 jazz album by Wynton Marsalis.Marsalis wrote all the selections on the album, in addition to playing trumpet....
(1989) - Intimacy Calling: Standard Time Vol.2 (1991)