Hank Roberts (born March 24, 1954,

Terre Haute, Indiana Terre Haute ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, about 5 miles east of the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a ...

) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

cellist and vocalist. He plays the

electric cello The electric cello is a type of cello that relies on electronic amplification (rather than acoustic resonance) to produce sound. An acoustic cello can be fitted with a bridge or body mounted contact pickup providing an electric signal, or a built-i ...

, and his style is a mixture of rock, jazz, avant-garde, folk, and classical influences. He emerged with the downtown New York City jazz scene of the 1980s and is associated with its

post-modern Postmodernism is an intellectual stance or mode of discourseNuyen, A.T., 1992. The Role of Rhetorical Devices in Postmodernist Discourse. Philosophy & Rhetoric, pp.183–194. characterized by skepticism toward the " grand narratives" of moderni ...

tendencies.

Background

In the early 1980s, Roberts made a number of recordings for the defunct JMT label, was a featured member of the

Bill Frisell William Richard Frisell (born March 18, 1951) is an American jazz guitarist, composer and arranger. Frisell first came to prominence at ECM Records in the 1980s, as both a session player and a leader. He went on to work in a variety of contexts ...

Quartet, and was an important voice in many groups of saxophonist

Tim Berne Tim Berne (born October 16, 1954) is an American avant-garde jazz saxophonist and record label owner. His primary instruments are the alto and baritone saxophones. Biography Berne was born in Syracuse, New York, United States. He has said that ...

. Roberts also recorded three discs with the

Arcado String Trio The Arcado String Trio was first an American, later international Jazz trio active from 1989 to 1993. The ensemble was formed by the cellist Hank Roberts, the bassist Mark Dresser and the violinist Mark Feldman. Roberts was later replaced by Ernst ...

, an improvisational chamber group featuring Mark Feldman,

violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

, and

Mark Dresser Mark Dresser (born September 26, 1952) is an American double bass player and composer. Career Dresser was born in Los Angeles, California, United States. In the 1970s, he was a member of Black Music Infinity led by Stanley Crouch and performed w ...

double bass The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or #Terminology, by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched Bow (music), bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox addit ...

. In the early 1990s, Roberts left Frisell's group and stopped touring widely. He continued to release recordings, if sporadically, including with the progressive folk group

Ti Ti Chickapea TI, ti, and variants may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Ti/Si, the seventh syllable in the solfège technique * The International (''Dota 2''), an annual esports tournament for the video game, ''Dota 2'' * ''Twilight Imperium'', a game Bu ...

. In 2008, he was again touring and performing regularly, releasing ''Green'' (with

Jim Black Jim Black is an American jazz drummer who has performed with Tim Berne and Dave Douglas. He attended Berklee College of Music. Career His band AlasNoAxis includes Hilmar Jensson on electric guitar, Chris Speed on tenor saxophone and clari ...

and

Marc Ducret Marc Ducret (born 19 August 1957) is a contemporary avant-garde jazz guitarist who frequently collaborates with saxophonist Tim Berne. Ducret's guitar style is idiosyncratic, having been called "highly original and very expressive," but also ...

) on

Winter & Winter Winter & Winter is a record label in Munich, Germany that specializes in jazz, classical and improvised music. It was founded by Stefan Winter following the demise of his JMT Records label. Since 1997 Winter & Winter has released records by Da ...

, Stefan F. Winters subsequent label to JMT. In December 2011, Winter & Winter released Roberts' ''Everything Is Alive'', as well as re-releasing his entire JMT catalogue.

Selected discography

As leader

* ''

Black Pastels ''Black Pastels'' is the debut album by cellist Hank Roberts which was recorded in 1987 and released on the JMT label.Shimada, T.JMT label discography accessed October 7, 2014 Reception The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow said it was "Recommende ...

'' ( JMT, 1987) * ''

Birds of Prey Birds of prey or predatory birds, also known as raptors, are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals, reptiles and other smaller birds). In addition to speed and strength, these predators ...

'' (JMT, 1990) * ''

Little Motor People ''Little Motor People'' is the third album led by cellist Hank Roberts which was recorded in late 1992 and released on the JMT label.Shimada, T.JMT label discography accessed November 14, 2014 Reception AllMusic awarded the album 4 stars.

'' (JMT, 1993) * ''22 Years from Now'' (Level Green, 1997) * ''I'll Always Remember'' (Level Green, 1998) * '' Cause and Reflect'' (Level Green, 1998) * ''The Truth and Reconciliation Show'' (I Town, 2002) * ''

Green Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 Nanometre, nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by ...

'' (

, 2008) with

and

* '' Everything Is Alive'' (Winter & Winter, 2011) with Bill Frisell,

Jerome Harris Jerome Harris (born April 5, 1953) is an American jazz musician specializing in electric and acoustic bass guitar, electric guitar, voice, and occasionally lap steel and small percussion. He came to prominence in 1978 playing bass guitar and gui ...

and

Kenny Wollesen Kenny Wollesen (born 1966) is an American drummer and percussionist. Wollesen has recorded and toured with Tom Waits, Sean Lennon, Ron Sexsmith, Bill Frisell, Norah Jones, John Lurie, Myra Melford, Steven Bernstein, and John Zorn. He is a foun ...

* ''Science of Love'' (Sunnyside, 2021) with Hank Roberts Sextet With Arcado String Trio * '' Arcado'' (JMT, 1989) * ''

Behind the Myth ''Behind the Myth'' is the second album by the Arcado String Trio featuring violinist Mark Feldman, cellist Hank Roberts and bassist Mark Dresser, which was recorded in 1990 and released on the JMT label.For Three Strings and Orchestra ''For Three Strings and Orchestra'' is the third album by the Arcado String Trio (violinist Mark Feldman, cellist Hank Roberts and bassist Mark Dresser) featuring the Kölner Rundfunk Orchester which was recorded in 1991 and released on the JM ...

'' (JMT, 1992) With

Miniature A miniature is a small-scale reproduction, or a small version. It may refer to: * Portrait miniature, a miniature portrait painting * Miniature art, miniature painting, engraving and sculpture * Miniature (chess), a masterful chess game or probl ...

* ''

'' (JMT, 1989) * '' I Can't Put My Finger on It'' (JMT, 1992)

As sideman

With

* ''

Fulton Street Maul Fulton may refer to: People * Robert Fulton (1765–1815), American engineer and inventor who developed the first commercially successful steam-powered ship * Fulton (surname) Given name * Fulton Allem (born 1957), South African golfer * Fult ...

'' (CBS, 1986) * ''

Sanctified Dreams Sanctified may refer to: * Sanctification, the process of making holy Music Albums * ''Sanctified'' (album), by Morgana Lefay, 1995 *''Sanctified'', by Jack McDuff, 1961 *''Sanctified'', by the Rance Allen Group, 1975 Songs *"Sanctified", by Th ...

'' (Columbia, 1988) * ''

Tim Berne's Fractured Fairy Tales ''Tim Berne's Fractured Fairy Tales'' is an album by saxophonist Tim Berne which was recorded in 1989 and released on the JMT label.Shimada, T.JMT label discography accessed October 14, 2014 Reception The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow said "Tim ...

'' (JMT, 1989) * '' Diminutive Mysteries (Mostly Hemphill)'' (JMT, 1993) With

* '' Lookout for Hope'' ( ECM, 1987) * ''

Before We Were Born ''Before We Were Born'' is the first album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label. It was released in 1989 and features performances by Frisell, cellist Hank Roberts, bassist Kermit Driscoll and drummer Joey Baron. Guests i ...

'' (

Nonesuch __NOTOC__ Nonesuch may refer to: Plants * ''Lychnis chalcedonica'', a wildflower * ''Medicago lupulina'', a wildflower Places and structures *Nonesuch, Kentucky *Nonesuch Island, Bermuda *Nonesuch Mine, Michigan *Nonesuch Palace, mis-spelling of ...

, 1989) * ''

Where in the World Where in the World may refer to: * ''Where in the World?'' (Irish game show), a 1987-1996 quiz show on RTÉ One * ''Where in the World'' (UK game show), a 1983-1985 quiz show on Channel 4 * ''Where in the World?'' (album), a 1991 album by Bill F ...

'' (Nonesuch, 1991) * '' Unspeakable'' (Nonesuch, 2004) * ''

Richter 858 ''Richter 858'' is a 2005 studio album by American jazz guitarist Bill Frisell consisting of improvised music inspired by the paintings of German artist Gerhard Richter. Background The album features Frisell, Eyvind Kang, Jenny Scheinman and Han ...

'' (Songlines, 2005) * ''

History, Mystery ''History, Mystery'' is the 20th album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label. It was released in 2008.

'' (Nonesuch, 2008) * ''

Disfarmer ''Disfarmer'' is the 21st album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Nonesuch label.Bill Frise ...

'' (Nonesuch, 2009) * '' Sign of Life: Music for 858 Quartet'' (

Savoy Savoy (; frp, Savouè ; french: Savoie ) is a cultural-historical region in the Western Alps. Situated on the cultural boundary between Occitania and Piedmont, the area extends from Lake Geneva in the north to the Dauphiné in the south. Savo ...

, 2011) * ''

Big Sur Big Sur () is a rugged and mountainous section of the Central Coast of California between Carmel and San Simeon, where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. It is frequently praised for its dramatic scenery. Big Sur ha ...

'' (

Okeh Okeh Records () is an American record label founded by the Otto Heinemann Phonograph Corporation, a phonograph supplier established in 1916, which branched out into phonograph records in 1918. The name was spelled "OkeH" from the initials of Ott ...

, 2013) * ''

Harmony In music, harmony is the process by which individual sounds are joined together or composed into whole units or compositions. Often, the term harmony refers to simultaneously occurring frequencies, pitches ( tones, notes), or chords. However ...

'' (

Blue Note records Blue Note Records is an American jazz record label owned by Universal Music Group and operated under Capitol Music Group. Established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis, it derived its name from the blue notes of jazz and the blues. Or ...

, 2019) With

Alex Cline Alex Cline (born January 4, 1956) is an American jazz drummer. Biography Born in Los Angeles, California, Cline began playing drums with his twin brother, guitarist Nels Cline, at the age of 11. Their first band was called Homogenized Goo and in ...

* '' The Lamp and the Star'' (ECM, 1987) With

Marilyn Crispell Marilyn Crispell (born March 30, 1947) is an American jazz pianist and composer. Scott Yanow described her as "a powerful player... who has her own way of using space... She is near the top of her field." Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrot ...

* ''

Santuerio ''Santuerio'' is a live album by pianist Marilyn Crispell. It was recorded at Roulette in New York City in May 1993, and was released later that year by Leo Records. On the album, Crispell is joined by violinist Mark Feldman, cellist Hank Roberts ...

'' (1993) With Ti Ti Chickapea * ''Change of Worlds'' (2000) * ''Firestick'' (2002) With Edmar Casteñeda * ''Cuarto de Colores'' (2006) With Buffalo Collision * ''Duck'' (

Screwgun Screwgun Records is a jazz record label founded by saxophonist Tim Berne in 1996. Most releases on the label have been by Berne, though some have been by Berne's associates and bandmates. Steve Byram has designed and illustrated the artwork for ma ...

, 2008) With

Donald Rubinstein Donald Rubinstein is a film composer, singer/songwriter, and multi-media artist who is best known for his collaborations with George A. Romero and Avant-garde jazz/rock collaborations with such musicians as Bill Frisell, Emil Richards and Wayne H ...

* ''

Martin Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austral ...

'' (Motion Picture Soundtrack) (

Varèse Sarabande Varèse Sarabande is an American record label, owned by Concord Music Group and distributed by Universal Music Group, which specializes in film scores and original cast recordings. It aims to reissue rare or unavailable albums, as well as newer r ...

, 1978) * ''When She Kisses the Ship on His Arm'' (Bare Bones, 2009)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Hank 1954 births Living people American jazz cellists American male jazz musicians Musicians from Indiana Arcado String Trio members JMT Records artists