Marcus Roberts (born September 7, 1963 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an Amer… Read Full Bio ↴Marcus Roberts (born September 7, 1963 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American jazz pianist who has achieved fame as a gifted player committed to celebrating classic standards and jazz traditions.
Blind since his youth, Roberts began playing piano at an early age and then studied the instrument while attending Florida State University. In 1985, he got his big break when famed trumpeter Wynton Marsalis chose him as his new sideman. He became a close friend and disciple of Marsalis, and collaborated with him on many projects during the ensuing years.
With Marsalis' support and soon after joining him, Roberts began cutting his own records. His albums tend to be homages to past jazz greats, and Roberts has been falsely criticized for a lack of innovation. However, his playing ability and technique have always been highly regarded and his music has added to the vocabulary of modern jazz piano and the piano trio.
When listening to Roberts' music, one cannot help but notice, simultaneously, his utter devotion to his New Orleans roots and his bold strides onto the cutting edge. On a piece such as "Nebuchadnezzar" Roberts lays down all the tradional harmonies and chords, then builds an expansive tonal and melodic structure evoking slyness, joy, confidence, and just a touch of knowing world-weariness.
Roberts excels as an improvisor and re-interpreter in his solo performances and creates interesting and daring arrangments as a large band leader, but his chamber work will endure as his true contribution to American music. If traditional jazz is a juke joint or an urban club, Marcus Roberts builds sonic palaces, inviting his listener to come and pay homage to the living spirits of Monk, Ellington, Morton, Gershwin, and many more of his fellow geniuses.
In 2005, Roberts took a position as a professor of Jazz Studies at Florida State University.
Blind since his youth, Roberts began playing piano at an early age and then studied the instrument while attending Florida State University. In 1985, he got his big break when famed trumpeter Wynton Marsalis chose him as his new sideman. He became a close friend and disciple of Marsalis, and collaborated with him on many projects during the ensuing years.
With Marsalis' support and soon after joining him, Roberts began cutting his own records. His albums tend to be homages to past jazz greats, and Roberts has been falsely criticized for a lack of innovation. However, his playing ability and technique have always been highly regarded and his music has added to the vocabulary of modern jazz piano and the piano trio.
When listening to Roberts' music, one cannot help but notice, simultaneously, his utter devotion to his New Orleans roots and his bold strides onto the cutting edge. On a piece such as "Nebuchadnezzar" Roberts lays down all the tradional harmonies and chords, then builds an expansive tonal and melodic structure evoking slyness, joy, confidence, and just a touch of knowing world-weariness.
Roberts excels as an improvisor and re-interpreter in his solo performances and creates interesting and daring arrangments as a large band leader, but his chamber work will endure as his true contribution to American music. If traditional jazz is a juke joint or an urban club, Marcus Roberts builds sonic palaces, inviting his listener to come and pay homage to the living spirits of Monk, Ellington, Morton, Gershwin, and many more of his fellow geniuses.
In 2005, Roberts took a position as a professor of Jazz Studies at Florida State University.
Shout 'Em Aunt Tillie
Marcus Roberts Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Marcus Roberts:
A Foggy Day I was a stranger in the city Out of town were…
But Not For Me Old man sunshine listen you Never tell me dreams come true J…
Embraceable You Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you! Embrace me, you irrepl…
How Long Has This Been Going On As a tot, when I trotted in little velvet panties, I…
I Concentrate on You Whenever skies look gray to me And trouble begins to brew, …
I Got It Bad Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears W…
I Remember You Whenever skies look gray to me And trouble begins to brew, W…
I've Got You Under My Skin I've got you under my skin. I've got you deep in…
It's De Lovely The night is young, the skies are clear So if…
Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow Oh the weather outside is frightful But the fire is so…
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Oh the weather outside is frightful But the fire is so…
Love Is Here To Stay It's very clear, our love is here to stay Not for…
Mood Indigo You ain't never been blue; no, no, no, You ain't…
Nice Work If You Can Get It The man who only lives for making money Lives a life…
Our Love Is Here To Stay It's very clear, our love is here to stay Not for…
Prelude to a Kiss If you hear A song in blue Like a flower crying For the…
Sleigh Ride Just hear those sleigh bells jingle-ing, ring-ting tingle-in…
Solitude In my solitude You haunt me With dreadful ease Of days go…
Someone to Watch over Me There's a saying old says that love is blind Still were…
St. Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at yo…
Unforgettable Unforgettable That's what you are Unforgettable Tho' near or…
Where Or When It seems we stood and talked like this before We looked…
You're the Top At words poetic, I'm so pathetic That I always have found…
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