Pittsfield — When someone is called “one of the preeminent American jazz pianists of his generation,” you have to wonder what’s up. Because it’s not the first time you’ve heard such a claim. How many preeminent American jazz pianists (of his generation) can there be? The following description of Marcus Roberts’ playing from the Philadelphia Inquirer’s A.D. Amorosi will make you stop wondering what’s up, because Mr. Amorosi spells it out clearly:
Pianist Marcus Roberts is known for many things: a genius skill that makes him the logical successor to Thelonious Monk’s wild style (with a lot of Fats Waller in his stride), an immense love of the blues, technological innovations in regard to composing for the blind, and a soulful sense of tradition and invention.
The Monk reference speaks volumes, confirming what your ears tell you when Roberts plays any standard tune you would care to name. At times, there is a seemingly reckless quality to his playing that distinguishes him from almost everyone but Monk himself. When Roberts gets outside, he gets really outside and tends to frighten you a little before returning. But his playing always overflows with harmonic ear candy. And yes, Roberts evinces an immense and irresistible love of the blues, which provide the foundation for everything he plays.
It is a joy to hear Marcus Roberts play solo. But when he plays with his trio, featuring Jason Marsalis (Ellis’s son) on drums
and Rodney Jordan on bass, the fun and excitement go up a notch or two. These guys have been playing together for many years, and their telepathic interactions on stage give them away as masters of jazz improvisation.
The trio will perform Roberts’ 12-movement suite, “From Rags to Rhythm,” along with a tribute marking Duke Ellington’s 125th birth anniversary.
During the first 15 years of his career, Marcus Roberts released over 30 recordings of piano performances—solo, with trio, big band, and with symphony orchestra. Also during this time, his trio performed Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with Seiji Ozawa conducting, in a truly mind-boggling revelation of Gershwin’s intentions that anyone can recognize as such. He and Ozawa also presented Roberts’ own arrangement of Gershwin’s “Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra.” CBS featured Roberts in the “60 Minutes” episode “The Virtuoso,” which traced his life from his early years in Jacksonville, Fla., and at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, to his career as a professional musician. In addition to his achievements as a performing musician and arranger, Roberts established the J-Master Records label in 2009. His commitment to mentoring and training emerging jazz talents led him to establish the multigenerational ensemble Modern Jazz Generation, and he has mentored such jazz greats as trumpeters Marcus Printup and Nicholas Payton, trombonist Ronald Westray, and drummer Jason Marsalis.
This final concert of the Pittsfield CityJazz Festival will also feature the Berkshires Jazz All Star Youth Ensemble.
Hear the Marcus Roberts Trio at the Colonial Theatre, 111 South Street, Pittsfield, on Saturday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m.. Tickets are available here.
