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Marcus Roberts

Marcus Roberts grew up in Jacksonville, Florida where his mother's gospel singing and the music of the local church left a lasting impact on his own musical style. After losing his sight at age five, he began teaching himself to play piano a few years later. He had his first formal lessons at age twelve and ultimately went on to study classical piano at Florida State University with Leonidus Lipovetsky. While at FSU, Roberts won the first of many competitions and awards, the young artist's competition at the 1982 National Association of Jazz Educators annual conference. His many other awards include first prize at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 1987, a National Academy of Achievement award in 1995 and the Helen Keller Award for Personal Achievement in 1998.

At age 21, Roberts began touring with Wynton Marsalis and stayed with the group for over six years. He signed his first recording contract with BMG/Novus in 1988 and completed six recordings for them before signing with Columbia Records early in 1994. All of his recordings have been critically acclaimed, and several have reached the No. 1 spot on Billboard's traditional jazz chart. Roberts’ recording legacy reflects his tremendous versatility as an artist and includes solo piano, duets, and trio arrangements of jazz standards, original suites of music, large ensemble works, and symphony orchestra recordings.

Roberts first performed as a soloist with symphony orchestra in 1992 with Maestra Marin Alsop. Since that time, he has performed with orchestras all over the world, but most frequently with his long-time music mentor, Maestro Seiji Ozawa. In 2003, Roberts premiered his ground-breaking arrangement of Gershwin's “Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra” with Ozawa in Japan with the New Japan Philharmonic and then in Europe, with the Berlin Philharmonic at their annual Wäldbuhne concert (A Gershwin Night (DVD), EuroArts 2003). Among Roberts most recent achievements was the April 2013 premiere of his first piano concerto, “Spirit of the Blues: Piano Concerto in C Minor”, with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Robert Spano. That concerto was dedicated jointly to Maestro Ozawa and the late Martin Luther King, Jr.

Since beginning his own record label, J-Master Records, in 2009, Roberts' has released three CDs on the label: New Orleans Meets Harlem, Volume 1; Celebrating Christmas; and most recently, Deep in the Shed: A Blues Suite. In 2012, the Marcus Roberts Trio collaborated with Béla Fleck to record and tour Across the Imaginary Divide (distributed by Rounder Records). Two new CDs are scheduled to be released shortly on J-Master Records including a two-CD set (Together Again: Live in Concert and Together Again: In the Studio) with the Marcus Roberts Trio and special guest, Wynton Marsalis.

Roberts’ deep respect for the contributions and achievements of the great masters of jazz and classical music has led to his highly innovative and original piano style and philosophy of jazz improvisation. He is an extremely active composer and arranger, with scores of individual compositions and numerous entire suites of music. He has been honored to receive many commissioning awards, including awards from Jazz at Lincoln Center, Chamber Music America, ASCAP, the North Carolina Association of Jazz Educators, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Savannah Music Festival. Finally, Marcus Roberts is a dedicated teacher. He is devoted to the training and development of younger musicians. Just a few of the remarkably talented musicians that he has trained and guided over the years are Jason Marsalis, Marcus Printup, Nicholas Payton, Ronald Westray, Vincent Gardner, Roland Guerin, Etienne Charles, and Alphonso Horne as well as a number of talented up-and-coming musicians who will be featured on his upcoming recording entitled Romance, Swing, and the Blues. Roberts is generous with his time, his talent, and his vast knowledge of jazz music. He and his trio regularly provide master classes, workshops, lecture-demonstrations and residency programs while on tour. He is always willing to reach out to younger musicians. Roberts serves as the Associate Artistic Director for the Savannah Music Festival where he directs the annual “Swing Central” high school band competition and educational programs for students from all over the country. Roberts lives in Tallahassee, where he is on the faculty at the School of Music at his alma mater, Florida State University.

Awards

1982 Young Artist’s Award, National Association of Jazz Educators 1987 First Prize, Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition 1995 National Academy of Achievement Award 1998 Helen Keller Personal Achievement Award, American Federation for the Blind 2001 Commissioning Award: Chamber Music America (From Rags to Rhythm) 2002 Artist-in-Residence, 2002 Winter Olympic Games 2003 Jacksonville Jazz Hall of Fame 2003-04 Housewright Scholar, Florida State University 2004 Commissioning Award: N.C. Association of Jazz Educators (Journey into Swing) 2005 ASCAP Commissioning Award (premiered at Rose Hall) (The Sound of the Band) 2012 Atlanta Symphony Orchestra piano concerto commissioning aware (The Spirit of the Blues)

Gear

Steinway artist.

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Marcus Roberts And The Modern Jazz Generation At The Kimmel Center

by Victor L. Schermer
October 15, 2019

Marcus Roberts and the Modern Jazz Generation Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Perelman Theater Philadelphia, PA October 11, 2019 Marcus Roberts is one of the great jazz pianists of his generation, coming up in the 1980s in Wynton Marsalis' band and since then more or less following Marsalis' emphasis on playing jazz classics rather than heading in new directions. He has developed a solid track record on his ...

Live Review

Marcus Roberts & The Modern Jazz Generation at The Flynn Center for The Performing Arts

by Doug Collette
November 2, 2014

Marcus Roberts & The Modern Jazz Generation Flynn Center for the Performing Arts Burlington, Vermont October 24, 2014 The last time pianist Marcus Roberts and his trio of bassist Rodney Jordan and drummer Jason Marsalis inhabited the MainStage of the Flynn Center, it was in the company of visionary banjo master Bela Fleck, and the four of them wasted no time in generating intense improvisation permeated with the joy of seemingly telepathic musicianly communication.

Album Review

Marcus Roberts: Portraits in Blue

Read "Portraits in Blue" reviewed by Marc Davis

by Marc Davis
June 18, 2014

This has to be the most raucous, the most bluesy, the most improvisational “Rhapsody in Blue" ever recorded. And not all of the best improvisation is by Marcus Roberts. Wailing clarinets and wandering trumpets abound. And it is all in a spirit of the original, so much so that I believe jazz-loving George Gershwin would have approved.All of Gershwin's original music is there, but much of it is taken at unusual tempos--speeded up, slowed down or synchopated--with many ...

New York Beat

Marcus Roberts: The Music of Jelly Roll Morton

by Nick Catalano
June 1, 2012

In the midst of Jazz at Lincoln Center's May celebration of New Orleans music, Marcus Roberts and his trio, accompanied by a choir of horns, constructed a tribute to Jelly Roll Morton. The concert featured classic Morton compositions performed with some enterprising improvisations.Morton's importance as a jazz pioneer cannot be overstated, and the extent of his contributions is being studied properly under the microscope of Jazz at Lincoln Center. His breakthrough stride pianism, his introduction of Latin (tango, ...

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Interview

Marcus Roberts: Has A Lot More To Do

by Tod Smith
May 12, 2009

With a foundation in the church and a passion for America's music, Marcus Roberts is easily one of the most prolific pianists of his generation. Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida and influenced by the early exposure to his mother's gospel singing, he decided that he wanted to be a jazz pianist after listening to the music of Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Mary Lou Williams and others on the radio. A student of classical piano at Florida State University, Roberts joined the ...

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Interview

Marcus Roberts: The Truth is Spoken Here

by Marc Minsker
January 24, 2005

Wynton Marsalis is one of the most talented trumpet players on the scene today. Unfortunately, he's also one of the most egotistical musicians out there. As an unofficial “spokesman for jazz," Wynton has helped to promote jazz throughout the world, but he's personally done very little to innovate the art form. This is unfortunate because jazz is all about transformation and change.

Perhaps his greatest contribution to the music is his support of young and upcoming musicians like Marcus Roberts. ...

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Album Review

Marcus Roberts: Blues For The New Millennium

by AAJ Staff
December 1, 1997

An old saying claims that the acorn never falls far from the tree. In the world of jazz, that doesn't always hold, but more often than not, it lands at least within shouting distance. Take the case of Marcus Roberts for example. As Wynton Marsalis's pianist of choice for much of the 80's and into the early 90's, Roberts worked extensively with Marsalis until branching out on his own in the mid 90's. From there though, Roberts didn't move very ...

Performance / Tour

The swinging art of the jazz trio - at its best

Source: Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
April 21, 2019

Pianist Marcus Roberts made clear his musical agenda right up front. “We believe that a jazz trio should not put you to sleep." And they certainly didn't at a Friday, April 19 concert at in downtown Fort Myers, FL. The event wrapped the 2018-19 jazz concert season at the Sidney & Berne Davis Arts Center. Roberts made sure his longtime trio mates, bassist Rodney Jordan and drummer Jason Marsalis (the youngest brother in the musical clan from New Orleans), also ...
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Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Marcus Roberts, Bethany Pickens, a tribute to Lee Morgan, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
February 17, 2016

This week's schedule of jazz and creative music in and around St. Louis features performances from two talented touring pianists, as well as an eclectic assortment of shows featuring local bands and musicians. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, February 17 Pianist Marcus Roberts and his trio will play the first of four nights continuing through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro. After first gaining wide attention in the 1980s as a member of trumpeter Wynton Marsalis' band, Roberts has ...
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Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Marcus Roberts Trio, Denise Thimes with Cyrus Chestnut and Tom Braxton, Pedrosaxo, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
May 9, 2014

Although it's getting to the end of the spring presenting season for jazz and creative music here in St. Louis, this Mother's Day weekend nevertheless offers plenty of options for your listening enjoyment. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, pianist Marcus Roberts (pictured) and his trio will be the featured performers for the tenth annual “Evening of Hope" event benefiting the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders at the Sheldon Concert Hall. Roberts last played in St. Louis in November 2012 ...
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Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: John Pizzarelli, Kirk Whalum, Marcus Roberts, Four in One, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
November 29, 2012

It's a busy weekend for jazz and creative music in St. Louis, and time is short, so let's skip the introduction and go straight to the highlights... Tonight, guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli opens a four-night engagement at Jazz at the Bistro. A longtime local favorite thanks to numerous previous appearances in St. Louis, Pizzarelli currently is on tour promoting both a book (the “musical memoir" World On A String) and a new album, Double Exposure. The album features Pizzarelli ...
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Performance / Tour

Marcus Roberts Reprises His Seminal 1990 Release "Deep in the Shed"

Source: Michael Ricci
February 20, 2010

This Saturday, February 20th, award-winning jazz pianist Marcus Roberts and The Marcus Roberts Septet will perform two historic reprises of Roberts' 1990 release 'Deep in the Shed' during Tallahassee's “Seven Days of Opening Nights" concert series in Turner Auditorium at Tallahassee Community College. “The beauty of the compositions came through clearly...carefully arranged and packed with incident and contrast, “ raved the New York Times of a 2008 performance of 'Deep in the Shed' at Jazz at Lincoln Center. “This suite ...
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Performance / Tour

Warmly Balancing Mind and Heart

Source: Michael Ricci
July 23, 2009

Marcus Roberts draws few distinctions between the playful and the professorial. As a pianist, bandleader and composer-arranger he balances erudition against reserves of charisma and wit. His first set at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola on Tuesday night was typical: generous in its warmth and strategic in its pacing, with a wealth of serendipitous detail. Mr. Roberts filled the set largely with material from a new album, “New Orleans Meets Harlem Vol. 1” (J Master), his first in eight years. As on ...
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Performance / Tour

The Marcus Roberts Trio at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

Source: All About Jazz
May 23, 2009

The Marcus Roberts Trio with Roland Guerin on bass and Jason Marsalis on drums will perform a six-night run at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center July 21 through the July 26. Roberts and company have a long association with Jazz at Lincoln Center and with Wynton Marsalis, dating back to Roberts' joining Marsalis' band in 1985. The Marcus Roberts Trio has spent over a decade together, a relationship perfected on the new J Master Records album 'New ...
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Interview

Pianist Marcus Roberts Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
May 12, 2009

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Recording

Pianist Marcus Roberts' New Orleans Meets Harlem, Vol. 1

Source: Shore Fire Media
January 15, 2009

Renowned pianist Marcus Roberts first album in eight years to be released March 31st.

New Orleans Meets Harlem, Vol. 1, to be released via Tunecore and online. Album marks Duke Ellington's 110th birthday.

Marcus Roberts' New Orleans Meets Harlem, Vol. 1, his first new album since 2001's acclaimed Cole after Midnight, is set for release on March 31. Roberts, fluent in the diverse vocabulary of jazz piano spanning the entire twentieth century, is known for the ways in which he ...
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Performance / Tour

Marsalis Protege Turns Mentor to Jazz Trumpeter's Kid Brother

Source: All About Jazz
July 18, 2008

Two decades ago, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis discovered a young blind piano wizard named Marcus Roberts, took him under his wing and nurtured him to jazz stardom.

Now Roberts, 44, is returning the favor, playing mentor to Wynton's kid brother, Jason, a 31-year-old percussionist. Roberts, Marsalis and bassist Roland Guerin make up the Marcus Roberts Trio. (They perform tonight through Sunday at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in Manhattan). Dining on a Caesar salad and catfish between shows, Roberts said the lanky Marsalis ...
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"Glowing is the proper response to Roberts' music" —Josef Woodard, The Independent

"Mr. Roberts... plays almost completely free of cliches, and while the intellectual construct within which he works is old - the application of the modern on a foundation of tradition—his ability in all his idioms seemed startlingly thorough." —Peter Watrous, New York Times

"That the huge crowd at Orchestra Hall on Friday night responded...with an instantaneous standing ovation said a great deal about Roberts' ability to keep an audience in his spell." —Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

"The sheer power and beauty of Roberts' creations...warrant further investigation." —Larry Blumenfeld, Jazziz

"Glowing is the proper response to Roberts' music" —Josef Woodard, The Independent

"The sheer power and beauty of Roberts' creations...warrant further investigation." —Larry Blumenfeld, Jazziz

"[Roberts'] writing is often brilliant in its juxtaposition of distant musical eras, ...its believable evocation of mood, ...and the way solos are made to emerge organically from the ensembles." —Thomas Conrad, Downbeat

"Although "classically" trained, Roberts is primarily a jazz pianist and composer. He is, therefore, a musician to whom improvisation is not only a living, but also an essential art. The results in the "Rhapsody in Blue" were fascinating." —Stephen Wigler, The Baltimore Sun

"Marcus Roberts is a superb improviser with a considerable compositional gift." —Chris Parker, The Times (London)

"There's an easy tendency to criticize the astonishing technical facility of Marcus Roberts and his associates as being too facile... when Marcus Roberts, or Wynton Marsalis for that matter, fly along brilliantly on their instruments, one never intuits a psyche on the edge of abandon but rather one recognizes extraordinary training and immaculate control... Their supreme adroitness still legitimately feeds the thrill of the music." —Richard Perry, The Ottawa Citizen

"Blues [for the New Millennium] rarely falters in its grooves. Thanks are due to an irresistible rhythm section, ... and Roberts' compositional wit" —Bruce Handy, Time Magazine

"No matter what guise they assume, however, the blues are always essential to jazz, and Roberts and his 12 gifted young musicians come to delightful grips with that fact on Blues for the New Millennium." —Geoffrey Himes, The Washington Post

"And what became clear by the conclusion of this fascinating program was that Roberts...opens up a creative window on both the past and future. By retaining the substance of these works, without mimicking their styles, by finding within them new musical challenges for the present and the future, rather than a by-the-numbers need for precise historical reproduction, he is identifying the entire jazz repertory as a timeless arena for creative endeavor." —Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times

"On The Joy of Joplin, Roberts once again forces us to re-examine what jazz is and where jazz is now. That's good. It's one reason why he is a pivotal figure in today's jazz scene." -Paul J. MacArthur, The Houston Press

"There may not be another pianist alive who could pull off such a feat while staying so true to the spirit of Joplin's compositions, if only because Roberts has the historical knowledge, creative imagination and technical prowess to sustain the experiment. Yet one ultimately comes away from this recording with new reverence for Joplin, who emerges as the forger of an indestructible ragtime vocabulary and as a pervasive influence on generations of composers yet unborn when he was in his prime." —Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

"Marcus Roberts...has made a name on the symphonic circuit playing "Rhapsody in Blue" which he fills with extended and dazzling improvisations that I can't imagine Gershwin wouldn't love." —Judith Green, The Atlanta Journal

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