In His Element: Robert Glasper at the Vanguard
Robert Glasper at the Village Vanguard (NYC, 7.24.07)
Robert Glasper has been known to brag about his childhood track exploits. By his account, he still holds his Houston, Texas elementary school's mile record at a speedy 6 minutes. Now 6 years out of the New School's highly regarded jazz program, the pianist and composer has hit many more milestones including the March release of In My Element. Follow-up to his major label debut, Canvas (2005), In My Element draws from hip hop, the ascendant musical form of Glasper's generation, in sweet and seemly fashion as well as alternative rock and gospel. Last night, Glasper and his touring trio kicked off a week-long engagement at storied New York City jazz club the Village Vanguard to a packed crowd of fan boys, students and tourists alike.
Glasper half-cheeses in a black on black Rolling Stones tee (NYC, 7.24.07)
Joined by bassist Vicente Archer and fellow Houstonian, drummer Chris Dave, Glasper dove into "Jelly's Da Beener'"'s expectant and altogether enamoring melody. When momentarily stalled my monitor problems, the droll leader bantered with the audience, a pattern that would be followed all evening to insouciant effect. In fact, before beginning another Canvas-gem, "North Portland", Glasper, noting Archer's dapper but unseasonable attire exhorted the "ladies" in the audience to scream, "Vicente, take your sweater off," a request that was met with catcalls a-plenty. "North Portland," an atmospheric piece Glasper wrote after relocating to Brooklyn's Black Bohemia, Fort Greene, was trailed by an unnamed and artfully rearranged Cole Porter standard. As Glasper and Archer faded out, Dave, also in the employ of R&B veterans Mint Condition and Contemporary Gospel star Kim Burrell, kicked it up a notch, powerfully soloing into "F.T.B.," a brilliant and characteristically hypermelodic tune that repeatedly crested in a flutter of flurrying notes. But what was most significant was how hip hop it sounded. Having done time in Q-Tip and Mos Def's bands, Glasper is engaged in hip hop culture, but many past attempts at melding jazz and hip hop have come off corny. Glasper stepped up to the challenge effusing in an interview I conducted with him 7 months ago about the syncretic sonic achievements of In My Element, which last night's set, I must say, didn not dispute.
The Robert Glasper Trio plays the Vanguard through Sunday and will be out west for a number of dates in late August. Check his MySpace for details.
For more on Glasper's 4th grade track exploits, listen to John Schaefer's 2005 interview with Glasper for WNYC's Soundcheck.
Posted on July 25, 2007 9:28 AM
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Comments (1)
Nice write-up, thanks for towing me along.
Posted on July 26, 2007 4:41 PM