Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

August 7, 1963 in Jacksonville, FL

 

Marcus Roberts is a renowned jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born on August 7, 1963, in Jacksonville, Florida, Roberts was introduced to music at an early age by his mother, who was a church pianist. He began playing the piano at the age of five and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. Roberts grew up in a musical family and was exposed to a wide range of music genres, including gospel, blues, and jazz. He was particularly drawn to the music of Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, and Art Tatum, and spent countless hours listening to their recordings and studying their techniques. In 1981, Roberts was awarded a scholarship to attend Florida State University, where he studied classical piano under the tutelage of Leonidas Lipovetsky. While at FSU, Roberts also began to explore jazz and quickly became a sought-after performer in the local music scene. After graduating from FSU in 1985, Roberts moved to New York City to pursue a career in music. He quickly established himself as a rising star in the jazz world and began performing with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Harry Connick Jr. In 1988, Roberts formed his own band, the Marcus Roberts Trio, which quickly gained a reputation for its innovative approach to jazz. The trio, which also included bassist Rodney Jordan and drummer Jason Marsalis, released its debut album, "The Truth Is Spoken Here," in 1989 to critical acclaim. Over the next few years, Roberts continued to build his reputation as one of the most talented and innovative jazz pianists of his generation. He released several more albums with the Marcus Roberts Trio, including "Deep in the Shed" (1990), "Portraits in Blue" (1992), and "Gershwin for Lovers" (1995). In addition to his work with the Marcus Roberts Trio, Roberts also collaborated with other musicians and artists, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Roberts' contributions to the world of classical music were recognized in 1998 when he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, also known as the "genius grant." The fellowship, which is awarded to individuals who have shown exceptional creativity and talent in their field, provided Roberts with the financial support he needed to continue his work as a musician and composer. In the years that followed, Roberts continued to push the boundaries of jazz and classical music, experimenting with new sounds and techniques and collaborating with a wide range of artists and musicians. He released several more albums with the Marcus Roberts Trio, including "In Honor of Duke" (1999), "New Orleans Meets Harlem, Vol. 1" (2000), and "From Rags to Rhythm" (2013). Roberts' contributions to the world of music have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship (2014), the DownBeat Critics Poll Award for Best Pianist (2015), and the Jazz Journalists Association Award for Best Pianist (2016). Today, Roberts continues to perform and record music, and his influence can be heard in the work of countless jazz musicians and composers around the world.

More....