Live Report 1: Robert Glasper Experiment@Regency Ballroom in SF, CA

(C)2016/www.sfjazz.org

(C)2016/www.sfjazz.org

 

First, this is very honorable of that I can start my blog with a live report of one of the most talented and respectful artist in today’s music scene. Robert Glasper, a grammy-awarded jazz pianist, began his latest tour from the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on Feb. 11, 2015. He has released several solo albums and two albums from Robert Glasper Experiment, which is his side project. His grammy-winning album, Black Radio, which featured many famous artists, such as  Bilal, Erykah Badu, and Lalah Hathaway, not only brought him success in his career but also demonstrated the evolution of jazz music itself by collaborating from artists from different music scenes.Through his show, Glasper totally changed my image toward jazz music. Jazz is never mellow, is aggressive and emotional. One of the most memorable moment, which proved this is when he started session with a drummer before the intro of Let It Ride. The 10-min long duel between Glasper and the drummer started with the quick light drum beats, and they grew up to the dynamic and intensive sound, which should no longer be described as “jazz.”The session eventually turned into the familiar piano intro of the song with a spring of applausing noise from floor. This could have been one of the greatest of moment of the show. Glasper seemed to cherish every moment and the atomosphere with audiences by communicating via music; at the same time, he also seemed to get inspiration, which, I hope, will be reflected on his next new music throughout the two and half hour long show.