Bryn Roberts

Bryn Roberts is pianist, keyboardist and composer who is in demand in a wide variety of musical contexts.

He has performed, toured and recorded extensively both as a leader and sideman, and is a mainstay at NYC jazz clubs like Smalls, Mezzrow, The Jazz Gallery, the 55 bar and Dizzy's. An acclaimed composer and bandleader, Roberts has four albums out featuring his own music: his debut “Present Tense”, “Ludlow” (featuring Seamus Blake, Drew Gress and Mark Ferber), “Fables” (featuring Seamus Blake, Orlando le Fleming and Johnathan Blake) and his most recent release, a duo album with guitarist Lage Lund called “Nightsong”.

Roberts has toured widely with his own groups including festival, radio and club appearances across the USA, Canada, the UK, Spain and Japan with some of New York’s finest musicians: Matt Penman, Jochen Rueckert, Rodney Green, Joe Martin, Jaleel Shaw, Johnathan Blake, Mark Ferber, Will Vinson and Seamus Blake.

Roberts is an original member of the Nonet led by Grammy nominee Alan Ferber, and has recorded with the group for a series of critically-acclaimed releases: “Scenes from an Exit Row”, “The Compass”, “Chamber Songs” and “Roots and Transitions”. He also plays frequently with saxophonist Jon Gordon's Quartet, and bassist Chuck Israels.

In addition to his work in jazz and improvised music, Roberts has played and toured with many artists in the singer-songwriter world, including Grammy award winners Rosanne Cash, John Leventhal, Shawn Colvin, Stax records legend William Bell, and Dar Williams.

Chuck Israels, Alvin Queen, Arturo Sandoval & Bryn Roberts

by Joe Dimino
November 24, 2024

Off the graceful and sophisticated notes of Aloft, the 2024 album by pianist and composer Bryn Roberts, we go right into this week's journey. From there, we delve into the timeless artistry of jazz legend Chuck Israels, a master whose collaborations have defined an era. Next, we spotlight the talented Marie Goudy, imagining her delight at a dream performance featuring the brilliant Chris Potter. The energy continues as we dive into fresh offerings from jazz veterans Bevan Manson, Alvin Queen, ...

Album Review

Bryn Roberts: Aloft

Read "Aloft" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
September 23, 2024

Pianist Bryn Ro has steeped himself in sideman roles and collaborations with singer-songwriters. He has released five albums as a leader in quintet, quartet and duo formats, but 2024 finds him offering up his debut as a leader of a piano trio in Aloft, where he works his trio dream team of bassist Matt Penman and drummer Quincy Davis. The history of the piano trio is a part of the challenge. Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, Red Garland. Those ...

Album Review

Bryn Roberts: Fables

Read "Fables" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
September 22, 2013

Born in Canada, pianist Bryn Roberts has enjoyed a prolific career as a session artist since moving to New York City in 2001. Snuggled within a modern mainstream vibe, his persuasive compositions pay homage to melodic content, often complemented by saxophonist Seamus Blake's burly delivery and fluid lines. Nonetheless, many of these works contain quite a bit of bounce and pop, as Roberts is a shrewd technician who knows when to balance power and restraint, alongside a light touch amid ...

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Album Review

Bryn Roberts: Ludlow

by AAJ Staff
July 20, 2005

Ludlow is a showcase for the considerable gifts of the young Canadian pianist and composer Bryn Roberts. It's a sparkling, varied CD that gets better with each listen. The music is characterized by strong compositional frameworks and flowing improvisation.

Pianist Roberts composed all the material on Ludlow except the standard “Dancing In The Dark." His compositions have lengthier expositions than the standards played by earlier generations of jazz musicians. The title tune, for example, is an attractive line, ...

Album Review

Bryn Roberts: Present Tense

by James Nichols
August 1, 2001

“Spring is Here." A bittersweet notion says Bryn Roberts on his album Present Tense. The Rodgers and Hart chestnut receives a rather moody makeover that competes with the Bill Evans version in its gloom quotient.

The group from Canada often resembles Keith Jarrett or any number of his label mates on ECM. The music skirts the line between achingly beautiful and morosely introspective. This music, while not always terribly exciting (track four “Forty" initially sounds a little like the trolley ...

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Album Review

Bryn Roberts: Present Tense

by Glenn Astarita
August 1, 2001

Young Montreal, Canada-based pianist, Bryn Roberts; a one time student of pianist extraordinaire Fred Hersch, exhibits complex compositional tendencies that perhaps skirt the fringes of both mainstream and modern jazz on his debut release, Present Tense.

At twenty-four years of age, Roberts has already performed with legendary trumpeter/big-band leader Maynard Ferguson and here, garners sturdy support from vibraphonist Stefan Bauer and saxophonist Seamus Blake. However, drummer Karl Jannuska and bassist Fraser Hollins provide the sinuous crosscurrents and pumping rhythms in ...

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All About Jazz Top 10 Songs: November 2024

Source: All About Jazz
December 1, 2024

All About Jazz features a free song every day spanning all genres of jazz, and of the songs featured in November, these ten represent our reader's favorites as indicated by total listens. Musicians and record labels can submit full length MP3s for consideration here Enjoy! Top Songs Aloft Bryn Roberts From: Aloft 06:35 A Thousand Nights Charlie Bates From: A Thousand Nights 05:04
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