Jazz at the Lobero will present The Marcus Roberts Trio – Rhythm in Blue, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara.
Hailed as “the genius of modern piano,” Marcus Roberts is joined onstage by drummer Jason Marsalis, and New Orleans bassist Roland Guerin.
The trio’s program, Rhythm in Blue, pays homage to the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” a composition that defines the Jazz Age.
The Artist Residency is presented by Jazz at the Lobero, in collaboration with the Santa Barbara Symphony.
Roberts is known throughout the world for his contributions to the field of jazz music. Credited with the development of a new approach to the jazz trio, Roberts has won numerous awards, including the Helen Keller Award for Personal Achievement.
Roberts is also an accomplished composer and arranger.
Marsalis is the youngest son of the esteemed Ellis Marsalis. He has held the drum chair in the Marcus Roberts Trio for more than 25 years, and is a founding member of Roberts’ Modern Jazz Generation band.
Marsalis is widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of his generation. His masterful musical intellect and technical skill combine with a brilliant thematic, groove-based drum style that has been a critical part of the sound and philosophy of Marcus Roberts’ bands for many years.
Guerin’s style is influenced by a range of musical genres, from jazz and blues to American folk and zydeco – playing strong country groove with a relaxed feeling of swing. His extensive recorded legacy includes several of his own work, as well as recordings with other artists, such as Marcus Roberts’ Grammy-nominated “Portraits in Blue,” and the Blind Boys of Alabama’s Grammy Award-winning “Down in New Orleans.”
Tickets for the show are on sale at Lobero.org and at the Lobero Box Office 805-963-0761. Prices are $106 – VIP (includes premier seating and a pre-show reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres, one hour before curtain); $55 – Section A; $41 – Section B. (Ticket prices include a $6 per ticket Lobero Facility Fee; other fees may also apply.)