UNC Asheville Hosts Performance by the Acclaimed Marcus Roberts Trio

Marcus Roberts

The preeminent Marcus Roberts Trio will take center stage on Friday, Jan. 21, in UNC Asheville's Lipinsky Auditorium. The trio will perform "In the Footsteps of Giants," which honors North Carolina's own Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. The program will feature Roberts' arrangements of many of the most memorable songs created by these two jazz legends. Tickets are $18 general admission and $10 children ages 12 and younger.

The Marcus Roberts Trio is made up of Roberts on piano, bassist Roland Guerin, and drummer Jason Marsalis. The group will explore the tremendous influence that both Monk and Coltrane have had on music and honor them by playing many of the important jazz compositions of the bebop era.
Roberts, who began playing piano in elementary school, joined Wynton Marsalis' band at age 21 and toured and recorded with the trumpeter for six years. He signed his first recording contract with BMG/Novus in 1988 and completed six recordings for them before signing with Columbia Records in 1994. All of his recordings, whether solo piano, trio, big band or symphony orchestra, have been critically acclaimed, and several have reached the number one spot on Billboard's traditional jazz chart. His recording of George Gershwin's signature classic, "Rhapsody in Blue" with symphony orchestra and jazz band was nominated for a Grammy. Roberts' most recent release, "Cole After Midnight," celebrates the work of Nat "King" Cole and Cole Porter and was selected by New York Times critics as one of the ten best jazz CDS of 2001.

In addition to the concert, the Trio will hold a free workshop from 2:15-3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, in Lipinsky Auditorium. Roberts, Guerin and Marsalis will discuss and demonstrate key pieces in the evolution of American jazz and answer questions on new directions in jazz composition.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call UNC Asheville's Special Events Box Office at 828/232-5000.

Media Contacts:

• Bunny Halton-Subkis, UNC Asheville Cultural & Special Events Director, 8282/51-6674
• Jill Yarnall, UNC Asheville Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526