March 16, 2017

 John Roberts on stage

 

Assistant Professor of Low Brass John Roberts, pictured here at the 2017 MSUB Jazz Festival, will present his faculty recital at 3 p.m., March 26, in Cisel Hall.  Free and open to the public.

John Roberts Y Pan Blanco Present Afro-funk and Latin Jazz for Faculty Recital

 

Contacts:

 Music Department, 657-2350

University Relations, 657-2266

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — Just months ago, Montana State University Billings Assistant Professor of Low Brass John Roberts released his new album Soul Y Pimienta. On March 26, you can enjoy the mix of Afro-funk, Latin Jazz and other world music during Roberts’ Faculty Recital.

 

John Roberts album cover
The recital, featuring his band John Roberts Y Pan Blanco, takes place at 3 p.m. in Cisel Hall on the University campus.

 

The very danceable album includes seven tracks influenced by Cuban Son, Congolese Soukous, sounds from Mexico, American soul, jazz and more.

 

Roberts said the music is a direct result of the experiences he has had playing around the world with a vast array of musicians. 

 

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from Montana State Billings and received his Master of Fine Arts in Western Orchestral Trombone Performance from California Institute of the Arts.  He also conducts the Jazz ensembles and teaches World Music.

 

Feeling equally comfortable in orchestral and commercial music realms,  for the past 17 years Roberts has been touring, recording, and performing in Los Angeles, around the U.S. and around the world, including Mexico, India, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, Australia and Africa.  Tours include Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca (Congolese/Cuban), Bobby Womack (Soul), Los Pinguos (Argentina),The Temptations, and The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. Other performances and recordings include 2008 and 2009 Grammys, Chris Botti, Feist, Sting, Dr. Dre, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Frank Sinatra Jr., Chaka Khan, Burt Bacharach, The Ojays,  Christina Aguilera, NPR, PBS, and Disney.

 

Roberts regularly works as a clinician, adjudicator and guest artist, continuing to hone his skills as an educator by sharing the “real world” of music with his students. 

 

The event is free and open to the public.