Rhapsody in Blue

Pianist Marcus Roberts is known throughout the world for his many contributions to the field of jazz music as well as his commitment to integrating jazz and classical idioms to create something wholly new while retaining the authenticity of each art form. Roberts is credited with the development of a new approach to the jazz trio, and he is often hailed as “the genius of the modern piano”. 

Roberts grew up in Jacksonville, FL where his mother’s gospel singing left a lasting impact on his musical style. He had his first piano lessons at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind and went on to study classical piano at Florida State University. His life and work have been featured on a segment (entitled “The Virtuoso”) of the CBS television show, 60 Minutes.

Roberts has won numerous awards over the years, including the Helen Keller Award for Personal Achievement. His critically-acclaimed legacy of recorded music reflects his tremendous artistic versatility as well as his unique approach to jazz performance. In addition to his renown as a performer, Roberts is an accomplished composer and arranger. He has been commissioned numerous times and has composed two piano concertos—one for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and one for Maestro Seiji Ozawa and the Saito Kinen Orchestra. His unique arrangements and performances of orchestral works by George Gershwin, James P. Johnson, and Duke Ellington have been hailed the world over. 

Roberts, who has several honorary doctoral degrees, is a Professor of Music at Florida State University and a Distinguished Professor of Music at Bard College. He continues to tour with his drummer Jason Marsalis and the great New Orleans bassist, Roland Guerin. 

Roland Guerin’s style is influenced by a wide range of musical styles, from jazz and blues to American folk and zydeco. He plays a strong country groove with a relaxed feeling of swing. Guerin’s extensive recorded legacy includes several recordings of his own work as well as numerous recordings with other artists, including Marcus Roberts’ Grammy-nominated Portraits in Blue and the Blind Boys of Alabama’s Grammy-winning Down in New Orleans. 

Jason Marsalis is the youngest son of the renowned Ellis Marsalis. He has held the drum chair in the Marcus Roberts Trio for more than 25 years and is a founding member of Roberts’ Modern Jazz Generation band. Marsalis is widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of his generation. His masterful musical intellect and technical skill combined with a brilliant thematic, groove-based drum style has been a critical part of the sound and philosophy of Marcus Roberts’ bands for many years.