Red Bull Music Academy Radio: Robert Glasper Fireside Chat (Blue Note, Brooklyn)

“Robert Glasper is one of the ringleaders, that is currently guiding jazz into new realms. Anyone still under the impression you had to wipe a layer of dust off the genre before you could enjoy it, should be locked in a room with some of Robert and his collection of collaborators’ music of recent times. They will soon be eating their words. Robert was brought up in Texas listening to his mothers gospel singing in the local church and watching her trawl the blues club circuit. By the time he reached adolescence however, he had watched and listened enough and soon moved to New York to pursue his dream of becoming a successful jazz musician. Fresh off the boat, he hooked up with future band member Reid and old school friend Bilal, who he worked with on various occasions since up until and including his third and current album ‘Fully Booked’. Others that have featured in his band of brothers over the six years since his debut ‘Mood’ astounded listeners and critics alike, include Talib Kweli, Karriem Riggins, Q-Tip and Mos Def. He talks here candidly about his contemporaries and his staggering genre-crossing skills.”