The Robert Glasper Experiment

Robert Glasper's latest Blue Note effort, Double Booked, shows just how well the pianist straddles the jazz and hip-hop worlds. On the first half of the disc, Glasper flexes his jazz chops within the confines of an acoustic trio setting, cutting through four brilliant originals before diving into the angular...

By Jon Solomon

March 18, 2010

We’re $800 away from our summer campaign goal,
with just 2 days left!

We’re ready to deliver—but we need the resources to do it right. If Westword matters to you, please take action and contribute today to help us expand our current events coverage when it’s needed most.

Contribute Now

Progress to goal

$17,000

$16,200

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
            "component": "23668565",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
            "component": "23853568",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "Editor Picks",
            "component": "17242653",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - 2x Rectangles Desktop, Tower on Mobile - Labeled",
            "component": "24956856",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25 
          
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
            "component": "17676724",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          }
        ]

Robert Glasper's latest Blue Note effort, Double Booked, shows just how well the pianist straddles the jazz and hip-hop worlds. On the first half of the disc, Glasper flexes his jazz chops within the confines of an acoustic trio setting, cutting through four brilliant originals before diving into the angular Thelonious Monk tune "Think of One." The second half of the disc opens with a voice-mail message from Roots drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, asking Glasper to bring the Experiment to a jam session hosted by his band. "I want y'all to do all that oraculous, spaced-out, past-geometry, near-calculus stuff y'all be doing," Thompson says. "Y'all do advanced trigonometry." As Glasper himself puts it, the Experiment is like his version of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters with hip-hop and alternative-rock influences. (For a full Q&A with Glasper, visit the Backbeat blog.)

Jon Solomon writes about music and nightlife for Westword, where he's been the Clubs Editor since 2006.

A message from Music Editor Emily Ferguson: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of Denver’s music, events and entertainment scenes.

Support Today