Industry: Music
Title: Jazz Artist
Twitter: @robertglasper
Robert Glasper understands the importance of keeping the legacy of jazz alive while incorporating new age sounds and styles into his music. The Brooklyn, N.Y.-based pianist and producer has bridged the gap between hip-hop and jazz unlike any other artist of this generation.
Glasper successfully infused both genres with the album, Double Booked. The first half of the album featured jazz and the second half of the album was geared to hip-hop and R&B. Double-Booked made a profound statement and allowed him to firmly introduce the Grammy Award-winning album, Black Radio.
The album’s title served as a metaphor for making music that will stand the test of time. “The album title comes from a conversation I had with Mos Def,” Gasper reveals. “The black box is located in all airplanes. Even when the plane crashes and burns, the black box always survives.”
Glasper wants to inspire a new generation to create timeless music. He knows that it’s vital for instrumentation to return to the forefront.
He’s quoted as saying: “I think I’m put here to usher in a new wave of jazz musicians that are more open minded for this time period. I also want to open the minds of those influenced by hip-hop and R&B.
“I want to have the freedom to continue to make honest music that is recognized. I’m glad that people are on board with it, so let’s keep it going and see what happens.”
