Robert Glasper on Piano Jazz

Robert Glasper.

Courtesy of Robert Glasper

Born and raised in Houston, pianist Robert Glasper literally grew up in jazz clubs. His mother performed with a jazz band, and she preferred to bring her young son with her, rather than leave him with a sitter. Glasper and his mother were also active in music at their church — his mother sang and played piano, and by age 12, her son had assumed some of the piano duties.

Glasper confessed to Marian McPartland a childhood dream of playing basketball in the NBA. Despite his more than adequate height for such a career, Glasper's immersion in jazz and an acceptance into Houston's High School for Performing Arts set him on the path toward a career at the piano.

After high school, Glasper moved to New York to study music at the New School. He began gigging around town and found work with such established jazz artists as Christian McBride and Russell Malone. Glasper has gone on to work with Nicholas Payton, Roy Hargrove, Terence Blanchard and Jeremy Pelt.

Glasper's two Blue Note releases, 2005's Canvas and 2007's In My Element, have both received glowing reviews. Jazz critics praised his adventurous approach and fresh style, while noting the influences of pianists such as McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett. The mainstream press has taken notice, too, drawing attention to Glasper's hip-hop-inflected rhythms and his associations with artists such as Mos Def, Common, Q-Tip and Erykah Badu.

Glasper performs regularly with his own trio, which includes Damion Reid on drums and Vincente Archer on bass. He is also known to play small club dates in New York as a part of The Robert Glasper Experiment, in which he further explores the intersection of hip-hop and jazz, with some neo-soul and funk thrown in.

Originally recorded Jan. 17, 2006.