The Blue Note recording collective Robert Glasper Experiment splits the difference between jazz and soul on this live release, which features 11 performances from four different dates between 2012-14 in support of the Houston pianist and composer's Grammy Award-winning Black Radio albums, which combine covers, original compositions, vocal tracks, and instrumentals. Onscreen text identifies each location, venue, song, and guest performer. The set opens with a Rotterdam version of "All Matter" featuring big band-style backing from the Metropole Orchestra (led by composer Vince Mendoza), a blazing sax solo from Casey Benjamin, and whisper-to-an-almost-scream vocals from Philadelphia vocalist Bilal. On the Shanghai performance of Radiohead’s "Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box," which plays up the more psychedelic side of the Experiment's sound, Benjamin trades the sax for a keytar and a vocoder, while bassist Derrick Hodge brings things to a contemplative close (drummer Mark Colenburg rounds out the ensemble). Hodge, a solo artist in his own right, also takes the spotlight during a Harlem performance of "Cherish the Day," featuring velvety vocals from Lalah Hathaway. And Algebra Blessett provides the sexy, spirited vocal on "Calls" from West Hollywood’s Troubadour, where she engages in a little call and response with Glasper. The Los Angeles performances could have benefited from cameras that were better at capturing detail in dimly-lit spaces, but overall it is the performances here that win the day, including a freestyle from singer-actor Wayne Brady and a showstopping falsetto scat from B. Slade on "Ah Yeah." Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo, this is recommended. (K. Fennessy)
Robert Glasper Experiment: Live
(2017) 81 min. DVD: $15.98. Eagle Rock Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Volume 33, Issue 4
Robert Glasper Experiment: Live
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