Tag: Robert Glasper

Robert Glasper and Terrace Martin Dazzle the Crowd at Blue Note Jazz Club
Renowned jazz musicians Robert Glasper and Terrace Martin began their annual October residency at Blue Note Jazz Club at the beginning of this month. If the other shows have been anything like the one I attended on the night of Wednesday, October 20th- crowds have been in for an absolute treat.

Robert Glasper at Blue Note Jazz Club, 10/20/21. Photo by Kunal Khunger

Glasper and Martin have been two of the most prolific popular jazz musicians working today, having done a range of production work for a range of artists, like Kendrick Lamar, YG, Mac Miller, Anderson Paak, and many more. That doesn’t even include their solo albums or their super-group Dinner Party, which includes other legends Kamasi Washington and 9th Wonder. Their work has reached critical acclaim within the jazz community, leading them to have a wide-reaching influence.

Terrace Martin at Blue Note Jazz Club, 10/20/21. Photo by Kunal Khunger

The chemistry was apparent between the two. Glasper and Martin cracked jokes for much of the night, talking about their upbringing and how they both have been friends since they were teenagers. One particular funny story was how Martin inadvertently got himself replaced on the piano parts of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly by Glasper. The vibe of the show was very easygoing. I felt like I was eavesdropping on a bunch of friends just jamming out.

Robert Glasper at Blue Note Jazz Club, 10/20/21. Photo by Kunal Khunger

Glasper and Martin performed a tribute to Herbie Hancock and some material off of their Dinner Party project, but then were shortly joined by a special appearance from Denzel Curry, a prolific rapper from Miami. Denzel joined everyone else in cracking some jokes and performed some songs off of his Unlocked collab project with Kenny Beats. Curry’s music is usually fairly high energy, so it was really interesting to see him perform in a more relaxed environment. He even commented how unusual it was for him to be performing while sitting down.

Denzel Curry at Blue Note Jazz Club, 10/20/21. Photo by Kunal Khunger

Right when the crowd settled down, Denzel Curry introduced another special guest: Brooklyn’s very own Joey Bada$$. The crowd immediately went into a frenzy, while Joey performed a few songs and joined in on all the jokes the whole group was having. One particular highlight was when both Joey and Denzel free-styled off of a lone baseline for fifteen minutes, back and forth.

Joey Bada$$ and Denzel Curry at Blue Note Jazz Club, 10/20/21. Photo by Kunal Khunger

The show was great and if anyone has a chance to go check out a show, please do so. Robert Glasper’s residency continues all October, with more dates listed here. Be sure to take a look at the full photo gallery down below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxYvt-IBcNE
Photos by Kunal Khunger
October 23, 2021
Blue Note Jazz Club Announces Robert Glasper “Robtober” Residency

New York City’s Blue Note Jazz Club has announced the return of multi-Grammy Award-winning artist Robert Glasper to the Blue Note stage for a stacked “Robtober” Fall residency in the heart of Greenwich Village.

From October 1 to November 7, Glasper will perform a total of 66 shows across 33 nights, including Halloween weekend. The run of shows continues Blue Note’s historic 40th anniversary festivities.

Robtober is already shaping into an incredible run of shows with high-caliber guests who are sure to command the stage alongside Robert Glasper. Glasper’s previous Blue Note shows have included tributes to Stevie Wonder, Roy Hargrove and J Dilla. A-list celebrities and unannounced special guests, including Dave Chappelle, Kanye West, Chris Rock, Questlove, Jill Scott, Common, Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli (Black Star) and Yebba are known to pop by the Blue Note to join Glasper for impromptu performances when he is in town.

In 2018, Glasper became just the 4th musician to hold a month-long residency at Blue Note, joining a short list that includes jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea and Chris Botti. The residency was spotlighted in the New York Times, which proclaimed that Glasper is “probably the most prominent jazz musician of his generation.”

The Blue Note is special to me because it’s the pinnacle of jazz, but it doesn’t stop there. They allow me to step outside the box and be who I really am, unapologetically. They give me the venue to do it. The first two residences were amazing. We had to take a break but I’m really excited to be back and see my fans again. Not being able to perform for so long made it really clear how important the fans are so I can’t wait to go there and make some more history.

Robert Glasper

Robert Glasper is the leader of a new paradigm in jazz, with a career that pans musical and artistic genres, winning 4 Grammys and 8 nominations across 7 categories, as well as an Emmy for his song on Ava Duvernay’s doc “13th”. October 2021 marks his return to the Blue Note, one of his first jazz stomping-grounds, for another record breaking residency (coined “Robtober”) as he takes over the Blue Note New York with an astounding 66 shows over 33 days, celebrating his musical career. Whilst his style consistently defies definition, Glasper’s residency demonstrate not only different eras, but also various parts of his musical community and the impact his collaborators have had on his development and style.

Alex Kurland, Director of Programming at Blue Note says of Robtober, “This residency is a monumental and historic event within culture, with each show an experience and literally unforgettable. Robert’s residency always produces landmark and extraordinary moments, and to be able to move forward with it after such challenging times is deeply meaningful to the Blue Note, New York City, and to art and music culture. The caliber and range of Robert’s to-be-announced projects, special guests and collaborations, are an incredible testament to his icon status.”

Special guests and daily lineup are coming soon. Purchase tickets here.

September 9, 2021
NYC’s Blue Note Jazz Club is Reopened by Grammy Winner Robert Glasper

R&B genius and four-time Grammy winner Robert Glasper celebrates the epic return of live music by performing at the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC. The celebrity-packed grand reopening ran until 2:30am on Friday, June 18th. You can watch a recap of the night here.

Glasper was joined onstage by comedic icons Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle. Musicians included Questlove, Common, Keyon Harrold, and Talib Kweli. You can watch the performance of these artists here. Many celebrities were spotted in the audience, such as Zoe Kravitz, Jon Hamm, Susan Sarandon, Lupita Nyong’o, Don Cheadle, Maurice Brown and poet Amir Sulaiman.

The Blue Note Jazz Club opened in 1981 and has been one of the most premier jazz clubs in the world ever since. It is a gathering place for listeners to enjoy some of America’s best music. The club fosters innovation and progression while preserving the history and traditions of jazz. Clubs like Blue Note have been an integral part of NYC entertainment for years, and the coronavirus pandemic led them to shut down for months. The recent reopening of the clubs has been incredibly exciting for both performers and jazz fans across the state.

Blue Note is celebrating the grand reopening of NYC jazz clubs by presenting the Blue Note Jazz Festival that will run throughout the summer. Many up-and-coming jazz, soul, hip-hop, R&B, and funk artists will be featured. The energy between the walls of Blue Note this summer will remind attendees of the gaping hole that was left this year when jazz clubs were forced to close. The electric performances will be something you surely don’t want to miss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKsIsP3mKdM

June 23, 2021