Biography
Born in 1978 in Texas, Robert Glasper grew up in Houston, where his mother’s work as a church pianist and leader of a small jazz-and-blues ensemble sparked his initial fascination with the keyboard. By twelve he was already performing on the same church instrument, absorbing not only technical facility but also the emotional underpinnings of gospel, blues, and jazz. During his school years his circle included future R&B vocalist Bilal, and after enrolling at Houston’s High School for the Performing Arts he formed a lasting musical partnership with drummer Damon Reid. Upon graduating, Glasper moved to New York to attend New School University, where he sat in from time to time with Kenny Garrett, Russell Malone, and Christian McBride. He remained in the city, performing and sometimes recording with ensembles led by trumpeters Terence Blanchard, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, and Jeremy Pelt as well as vocalists Carmen Lundy and Carly Simon. Additional work came with bassist Robert Hurst’s trio—on which Reid also played—and with guitarist Mark Whitfield.
For his 2004 debut album Glasper recruited Hurst and Reid, supplying the project with a solid foundation that allowed its relaxed character to unfold. Although steeped in the jazz-piano lineage of Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, his approach incorporates the hip-hop and alternative rock sounds that surrounded him in childhood; ongoing collaboration with Bilal further enriched the mix. The breadth of material that enabled him to reach listeners beyond the typical jazz-piano audience quickly drew the notice of Blue Note Records, which signed him in 2005. On the follow-up release he was able to foreground his skills as a composer, augmenting the core piano-bass-drums trio on selected tracks with Bilal and tenor saxophonist Mark Turner while traversing the full spectrum of influences that shaped his musical outlook.
For his 2004 debut album Glasper recruited Hurst and Reid, supplying the project with a solid foundation that allowed its relaxed character to unfold. Although steeped in the jazz-piano lineage of Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, his approach incorporates the hip-hop and alternative rock sounds that surrounded him in childhood; ongoing collaboration with Bilal further enriched the mix. The breadth of material that enabled him to reach listeners beyond the typical jazz-piano audience quickly drew the notice of Blue Note Records, which signed him in 2005. On the follow-up release he was able to foreground his skills as a composer, augmenting the core piano-bass-drums trio on selected tracks with Bilal and tenor saxophonist Mark Turner while traversing the full spectrum of influences that shaped his musical outlook.
Albums