Robert Glasper Shares Passion for Jazz with Collegiate Audience
No Jackets Required, a student organization at the University of Rochester, presents an evening of jazz with the Robert Glasper Trio on Monday, March 21. The first two events, a master class at 3:30 p.m. and open discussion at 6 p.m., give audience members a chance to intimately interact with musician Robert Glasper. Both events will be held in the Gowen Room of Wilson Commons and are free and open to the public. At 8 p.m., the trio will perform a concert in the Interfaith Chapel Sanctuary. Tickets for the concert, which are $5 for undergraduate students and $10 for the general public, can be purchased in the Common Market or at the door.
The three events are part of the Jazz Audience Development Program, an academic initiative to present jazz music to those unfamiliar with the musical genre. Started in 2004 by Dan Israel '05 as his Kaufman Entrepreneur Year project, the program has brought jazz artists including Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts and the Aaron Goldberg Trio to Rochester's campus.
"It's all about sparking an interest in jazz among college students," says David Bendes '11, president of No Jackets Required and current Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year scholar.
As a young jazz pianist, "Robert Glasper speaks hip-hop, bebop, classical and pop... accessible melodies, tumultuous beats and bright lyricism tend to recall modern jazz icons like Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea," says People Magazine. Glasper has released four albums, including three from Blue Note Records. His most recent album, Double-Booked (2009), combines traditional jazz tracks from the Robert Glasper Trio with pieces from the Robert Glasper Experiment, which take on a hip-hop feel. In addition to heading his trio, Glasper has collaborated with artists including Mos Def, Q Tip, and The Roots.
For more information about the events, e-mail David Bendes at dbendes@u.rochester.edu.