Robert Glasper Gets Double Booked.
Blue Note Piano Sensation Continues To Redefine Jazz Piano.
Oct 31, 2009
His new disc is called Double Booked and it grooves on both sides of the bookings.
He calls it Double Booked because the disc is equally divided into two musical sides, the acoustic side with the Robert Glasper Trio and the second half is with his electric band called the Experiment.
In an article on his personal website Robert Glasper .com, he explains that in doing the CD this way he would be making more of a statement if he puts it all together in one place. He further stated that: “It’s not like I play jazz, but I also play hip-hop now and then. I’m in it for real, both sides of the spectrum. That’s my life.”
In all of his work so far Robert has tried to show the audience both sides of his world. Double Booked is first one to give equal space to both sides of his musical brain.
Entering The Scene
Robert entered the jazz scene in 2004 when he released his debut CD Mood on the Fresh Sounds New Talent Label. A year later he was recording for the prestigious Blue Note label, releasing his label debut recording Canvas in 2005.
Canvas gave us a hard glimpse of what was to come later. Fresh new ideas from a jazz musician who wants to take jazz back to where it belongs, music of the now fresh, representing the present without abandoning its roots.
In His Element
He followed Canvas with In My Element released in 2007. This one pushed his ideas of including other musical elements into the jazz form even further. Excerpts from great gospel music can be found within his groove and he also took time to re-interpret the music of Sam Rivers and Herbie Hancock.
Double Booked was a much anticipated album and the title of the album is played upon by the inclusion of two phone call as excerpts in the album; to start the trio side he gets a phone call from trumpeter Terence Blanchard booking him for a gig with his trio and then to begin the electric half he gets a call from Roots drummer Ahmir Love booking his electric band.
Yes! He’s Country.
Standout tracks on Double Booked and there are many include; Yes I’m Country And That’s Ok, a track that leans heavily of the Americana vibe and reminds one of musicians like Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Jim Hall and Bruce Hornsby.
With track like Yes I’m country and 59 South, Glasper reminds the listeners that he has not forgotten where he is from. His country swing explains it all.
Butterfly a track composed by Herbie Hancock and included in his great 70’s album Thrust , is given a new sheen and shines brightly in the middle of Double Booked. The inclusion of Benjamin Casey on vocoder within the track, adds greatly to the mystique of the song.
Downtime the opening track swings brightly and sets the pace for an album with two elements quite nicely.
Bilal was a guest on his Blue note debut album Canvas and he returns on Double Booked. His vocals can be heard on All Matte, he also wrote the song, and Open Mind a very positive spiritual song and a wonderful closer to a brilliant project.
Other special guests include iconic rapper and actor Mos Def.
Double Booked is an album for the jazz lovers out there who are looking for the next phase in jazz. That should be everyone, you may not agree with the vibe, but it is food for thought.
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