Robert Glasper is an innovative pianist, composer, and producer who has become one of contemporary jazz's most influential voices. Born April 5, 1978, Glasper's music transcends traditional genre boundaries, blending jazz with R&B, hip-hop, and soul to create a distinctly modern sound. His artistic vision and technical mastery have established him as a bridge between the jazz tradition and contemporary popular music, earning him five Grammy Awards from 11 nominations throughout his career.
Glasper's breakthrough came with the release of Black Radio in 2012, which peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and earned the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. He followed this success with Black Radio 2 in 2013, solidifying his position as a leading force in modern jazz. Beyond his solo work, Glasper has become an in-demand collaborator and producer, contributing keyboards to Kendrick Lamar's landmark album To Pimp a Butterfly and lending his production and songwriting talents to artists including Anderson .Paak, Mac Miller, The Kid Laroi, Herbie Hancock, and Denzel Curry, among many others.
In addition to his recording achievements, Glasper has expanded his creative reach into film and television, composing original scores for documentaries including The Apollo and Issa Rae's The Photograph. His collaborative work with Common and Karriem Riggins on "A Letter to the Free," featured in Ava DuVernay's documentary 13th, earned him a 2017 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics. Glasper has served as an Artist in Residence at prestigious venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Blue Note Jazz Club, cementing his status as one of jazz's most important contemporary voices.
