Jimmy Roberts (saxophonist)
Not to be confused with Jimmy Roberts (singer), Jimmy Roberts (composer).
| Jimmy Roberts (saxophonist) | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | James Otis Roberts Jr. |
| Also known as | James Roberts, Jimmy Saxman Roberts |
| Born | August 31, 1948 Suffolk, Virginia, United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Saxophonist |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1960s-present |
| Website | www |
Biography [edit]
James Otis Roberts Jr. (born August 31, 1948, Suffolk, Virginia), also known as James Roberts and Jimmy Saxman Roberts, is an American rhythm and blues/instrumental jazz saxophonist..[1][2]. His style of playing ranges from R&B, soul and jazz and it can be labeled as very soulful and extremely funky. Among present day tenor saxophone players, Roberts' style lends its sound not only to R&B, jazz and rock and roll[3][4]. He is also considered to be one of the last of the tenor saxophone honkers.
Jimmy Roberts attended Andrew J Brown Elementary School, where he began his musical studies in the 5th grade. The young player continued under the direction of Frank Carballo, also a local saxophonist and music educator.
He was inspired by the masters of the saxophone:John Coltrane, Michael Brecker, Maceo Parker, King Curtis and Junior Walker[5]. In 1967 he attended Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, under a music scholarship.
In early 1960's Jimmy Roberts had an opportunity to work with American singer and songwriter Otis Redding. Travelling through the Southern regions of the United States to promote his single, These Arms of Mine, Reddings invited local musicians in the small towns to support him as sidesmen and Roberts was one of them.
In 1969 Jimmy Roberts moved to Toronto, Canada. He made his professional debut as a member of a Canadian band called Truck. While in Canada, he also worked with keyboardist and session musician William "Smitty" Smith, whom he had met and played in a band, The Rocking Champs, some years before in Virginia[6]. After a few years of touring and recording in Canada he moved to Los Angeles[7]
By the referral from the Tower of Power trumpeter Lee Thornburg, Roberts took part in auditions for Rod Stewart, which led to extensive touring and recording with one of the most popular rock singers of all time[8]. After 14 years of cooperation, Roberts decided to focus on family life and began to write and produce music for other artists. He rejoined Rod Stewart in 2010 and their intensive collaboration still continues[9][10][11][12]. Jimmy Roberts provided memorable saxophone solos in Rod Stewart's covers of Downtown Train, Have I Told You Lately, I Don't Want to Talk About It and his original songs such as Passion (Rod Stewart song) and Baby Jane (Rod Stewart song).
Throughout the 70's, 80’s and 90’s, as a sideman, Jimmy Roberts worked with Etta James, The Eurhythmics, Sade[disambiguation needed], Gregg Allman, Cher, Bobby Keys, Rick Braun, pianist Rob Mullins[13], R&B singer Derek Bordeaux, Jimmy Barnes, Randy Jacobs, Carly Simon, David Benoit, Gregg Karukas, France Gall, Johnny Halliday, Harry Nilsson, Van Dyke Parks, Trevor Lawrence, amongst other artists[14][15][16][17]. He cooperates with a smooth jazz guitarist Blake Aaron and a singer and songwriter Billy Valentine.
In 1999 Jimmy Roberts met guitarist Peter Roberts. They teamed up as The Roberts Brothers and recorded their first album Sugar and Spice in 2000[18]. In 2001 the duo was nominated for the Prism Award for the Best Up and Coming Artist by the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards. Their second album, Twins, was released in 2007.
Parallel to his other projects Jimmy Roberts recorded instrumental jazz album Bless My Soul (2002) and inspirational music album For We Are Never Alone (2006).
Discography [edit]
Roberts Brothers projects[edit]
- 2000: Sugar and Spice (Bdm Records)
- 2007: Twins (Indies Japan/Zoom), Re-release 2010
Solo projects[edit]
- 2002: Bless My Soul (CD Baby)
- 2006: For We Are Never Alone (Soultone Records)
References [edit]
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jimmy-roberts-mn0000088777/credits Retrieved 2017-07-05
- ↑ Frank Roberts, The Virginian Pilot, May 31, 1998 https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-68471693.html Retrieved 2017-08-21.
- ↑ Tom Emmi http://studiojams.com/?p=246 Retrieved 2017-09-02.
- ↑ George W. Harris http://www.jazzweekly.com/2017/08/rossinis-overturesbianca-rossini-vento-do-norte/ Retrieved 2017-09-02.
- ↑ Elizabeth Ware http://www.rodstewartfanclub.com/about_rod/article/EpuyuFZVyuigTcabpv.php Retrieved 2017-05-28.
- ↑ William Smitty Smith, A Stroke of Luck, Pasadena, California 2007, p. 80-87, 293, 355 https://books.google.pl/books/about/A_Stroke_of_Luck.html?id=IDdoFXYiCR8C&redir_esc=y Retrieved 2017-08-21.
- ↑ http://www.smooth-jazz.de/Artists3/The_Roberts_Brothers.html Retrieved 2017-05-28.
- ↑ Monica India Johnson http://www.jazzreview.com/jazz-artist-interviews/jimmy-roberts.html Retrieved 2017-08-21.
- ↑ Rachel Ward https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concerts/rod-stewarts-irresistible-charm-isle-wight-festival-review/ Retrieved 2017-07-06.
- ↑ http://www.whatson-north.co.uk/Whats-On/Music/REVIEW-2-Rod-Stewart-20062016.htm Retrieved 2017-07-06.
- ↑ Sue McDonald http://www.thesunchronicle.com/features/stories/concert-review-stewart-lauper-provide-timeless-performances-at-xfinity-center/article_f204bcfe-67ce-5d78-8f8d-a359906b0f41.html Retrieved 2017-08-21.
- ↑ Laura Denofio and Jim Gilbert https://nysmusic.com/2017/07/24/unusual-and-sexy-lauper-and-stewart-take-saratoga-by-storm/ Retrieved 2017-08-21.
- ↑ John Gilbert, http://www.ejazznews.com through http://www.planetmullins.com/sam.htm Retrieved 2017-12-17.
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jimmy-roberts-mn0000088777/credits Retrieved 2017-07-05.
- ↑ Larry Taylor http://www.jazzreview.com/cd-reviews/straight-ahead-classic-cd-reviews/rob-mullins-standards-and-more-by-rob-mullins.html Retrieved 2017-08-21.
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/sessions-vol-1-mw0000577789/credits Retrieved 2017-07-06.
- ↑ Hilarie Grey, JazzTimes, September 1995 https://books.google.pl/books?id=rycEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA103&dq=jazz%20times%20september%201995%20google%20books&hl=pl&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=false Retrieved 2017-07-06.
- ↑ Hilarie Grey https://jazztimes.com/reviews/currents/roberts-brothers-sugar-and-spice/ Retrieved 2017-07-06.
External links[edit]
Official website https://www.jimmysaxmanroberts.com/
http://www.therobertsbros.com/main.htm
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