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| Robert Glasper Experiment | |
|---|---|
| Name | Robert Glasper Experiment |
| Origin | Houston, Texas |
| Genres | Jazz, Neo soul, R&B, Hip hop, Fusion |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | Blue Note, RBC, Loma Vista |
| Associated acts | Robert Glasper, Common, Erykah Badu, Kendrick Lamar |
Robert Glasper Experiment The Robert Glasper Experiment is an American ensemble led by pianist Robert Glasper that blends jazz with R&B, hip hop, neo soul, and electronica. Founded in Houston, Texas, the group rose to prominence through studio albums, collaborative projects, and festival appearances that connected the ensemble with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Erykah Badu, Common, D'Angelo, and Bilal. The Experiment became notable for crossover recordings on labels like Blue Note Records and for earning industry recognition that includes Grammy Awards.
Formed after Glasper’s work with the Robert Glasper Trio and projects connected to Blue Note Records and Berklee College of Music alumni, the ensemble debuted in the late 2000s and released its first widely noted record on Blue Note Records in the early 2010s. The group’s early period intersected with collaborations involving Jason Moran, Terrace Martin, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Kenny Garrett, Roy Hargrove, and contributors tied to Hip-Hop Summit and SXSW. As the Experiment developed, it participated in recording sessions and tours alongside Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco, Stacy Barthe, and Snoop Dogg, expanding its reach into festivals such as North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Personnel shifts over time connected the ensemble to musicians from scenes in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston.
The ensemble synthesizes traditions from Miles Davis-era electric jazz, the neo-soul lineage of D'Angelo and Erykah Badu, the production aesthetics of J Dilla and Madlib, and the lyricism of Kendrick Lamar and Common. Harmonic approaches reference pianists like Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, and Chick Corea, while rhythm and groove draw on drummers and producers such as Questlove, Tony Allen, and Al Jackson Jr.. The sound incorporates ambient textures found in works by Brian Eno, the sampling ethos of A Tribe Called Quest, and the improvisational frameworks associated with Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane. Electronic treatments and beat-making link the Experiment to producers like James Blake, Flying Lotus, and Thundercat.
Core and rotating members have included musicians from multiple jazz and popular music circles. Key contributors and collaborators have featured Terence Blanchard-adjacent artists, sidemen associated with D'Angelo and The Vanguard, and players who recorded with Common, Mos Def, and Bilal. Personnel who have appeared with the ensemble or in related sessions include drummers and percussionists connected to Chris Dave, bassists linked to Pino Palladino and Ron Carter-influenced lines, and horn players who have worked with Kamasi Washington, Roy Hargrove, Branford Marsalis, and Nicholas Payton. Vocal collaborators across lineups include Ledisi, Staceyann Chin, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Yasiin Bey. Touring and studio rosters have evolved to integrate both established stars from Blue Note Records rosters and newer voices from Brainfeeder and Top Dawg Entertainment affiliations.
Significant releases from the ensemble on labels such as Blue Note Records and Loma Vista Recordings charted alongside albums by contemporaries like Esperanza Spalding and Kamasi Washington. Notable tracks and projects featured guest appearances by Erykah Badu, Kendrick Lamar, Common, Bilal, Brandy Norwood, Talib Kweli, and Jill Scott. The ensemble’s recordings engaged producers and engineers who have worked with Mark Ronson, No I.D., Pharrell Williams, Alchemist, and mixers known for credits with Dr. Dre, Tony Visconti, and Russell Elevado. Releases received placement on charts monitored by Billboard and exposure through outlets including NPR Music, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times.
The ensemble toured internationally, appearing at venues and festivals alongside lineups featuring Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Norah Jones, Prince, Alicia Keys, and Stevie Wonder. Performances included collaborative sets with Kendrick Lamar at major festivals, sit-ins with Erykah Badu during club engagements, and headline appearances at jazz clubs in New York City and Los Angeles. Tours brought the band to stages associated with presenters such as Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, Royal Albert Hall, and major jazz festivals including Victoires du Jazz and Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
Reviews in publications like The New Yorker, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post highlighted the ensemble’s boundary-crossing aesthetic. Critics compared elements of the project to landmark recordings by Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, D'Angelo, and A Tribe Called Quest. Industry recognition included wins and nominations at the Grammy Awards and citations from organizations such as DownBeat Magazine and JazzTimes. The ensemble’s recordings earned year-end placements in critics’ lists at outlets including NME, Spin, Exclaim!, and Stereogum.
The ensemble influenced subsequent generations of artists merging jazz with popular forms, providing a model for collaborations between jazz musicians and hip hop artists like Kendrick Lamar and Anderson .Paak. Its approach informed projects by musicians on labels such as Brainfeeder, Top Dawg Entertainment, and Blue Note Records, and shaped programming at festivals including North Sea Jazz Festival and Montreux Jazz Festival. Musicians citing the ensemble’s impact include Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Esperanza Spalding, and Cory Henry, while producers and vocalists in neo-soul and alternative R&B scenes—such as James Blake, Frank Ocean, and Solange Knowles—reflect overlaps traceable to the Experiment’s fusion of improvisation and beat-centered production.
Category:American jazz ensembles Category:Musical groups established in 2009