Jazz-fusion keyboard virtuosos Robert Glasper and Cory Henry will join forces in Denver, CO on Friday, December 3rd for a one-off performance at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver, CO. Presented by Live For Live Music and KGNU Radio, the performance will see Glasper and Henry treat fans to a special and unique performance alongside unannounced special guests [get tickets].
Glasper, a four-time Grammy-award winner, has made his bones as a producer, songwriter, and keyboardist at the forefront of the modern jazz-fusion scene, which pours over into hip-hop and R&B. Known for his solo work and his association with artists such as August Greene, Kamasi Washington, and Terrace Martin, Glasper’s shows are always a free-form, gently flowing expression of emotion—often chock-full guests from across the entertainment spectrum.
As of late, Glasper has been frequenting the Blue Note Jazz Club, where he’s in the midst of a 33-night, 66-show Robtober residency featuring some of the many friends he has made over his lengthy career. On October 4th, Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock popped in to deliver some tandem stand-up during a show. On October 15th, it was rising music superstar H.E.R. who stopped by for a performance of “Better Than I Imagined“, the collaborative track that netted them and Meshell Ndegeocello a “Best R&B Song” Grammy in 2020. Rappers like Common have also been a mainstay in Glasper’s live shows, fusing hip-hop with its chronological predecessor, jazz.
Similarly, Cory Henry takes pride in collaboration. Whether it’s making albums and touring with his band, The Funk Apostles, or forming one-off bands like The Revival with TaRon Lockett and Isaiah Sharkey, the unique nature of a Cory Henry show is rivaled only by, well, Glasper.
Back in September, just before the release of his most recent solo album, Best of Me, Henry was on hand for the NFL Kickoff, joining Michelle Williams for the National Anthem when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers welcomed in the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football. More recently, Henry was spotted across the country in Los Angeles, CA, celebrating Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ birthday with an extemporaneous performance at the Silverlake Conservatory of Music alongside artists such as John Frusciante, Kamasi Washington, and John Norwood Fisher.
Henry has also staged various Blue Note residencies of his own. While Henry and Glasper have not officially collaborated or been featured as part of a joint billing to this point, the two have often booked similar venues, and even overlapping runs at the Blue Note. They’re both musician’s musicians, as charismatic and creative as they are knowledgeable and well-trained, the kinds of artists that other artists crave a chance to play with. Until now, however, their direct musical connection has only come from a distance—like this amusingly tongue-in-cheek Twitter thread about entry-level music theory from way back in 2013.
Whether it’s surprise appearances from special guests, technical mastery, endless improvisation, charismatic banter, or a combination of all the above, Glasper and Henry are sure to put on a memorable performance at Cervantes’.
Tickets to the Robert Glasper and Cory Henry show at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver, CO on December 3rd are on sale now, here.
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