Album Notes

The music of the Andy Roberts Group (ARG) is jazz-based with a nod towards progressive rock. Within its music can be heard influences of Yes, Steely Dan, Headhunters and also jazz masters of the past. Listeners will find the music to be melodic with a lot of harmonic depth. There is also plenty of room for improvisation.

Although most music is original, Andy has a propensity towards twisting and re-shaping old rock and jazz standards as well.

“Andy’s performance during his live transatlantic broadcast from Avatar studios in New York to national radio in Iceland proved him to be a true professional and a superb artist.”
Jan Murtomaa, sound engineer and producer, Icelandic National Radio

biography

Pianist/composer/arranger Andy Roberts arrived at his approach to music and composition through the absorption of musical styles from disparate eras. Roberts’ influences range from jazz greats such as Fats Waller, Bud Powell and Chick Corea to rock ‘n’ roll music legends Professor Longhair and Rick Wakeman. He incorporates all of these music genres into his own original compositions and improvisations.

Born in 1967, Roberts grew up in Lebanon, PA, and began playing professional gigs at the age of 14. He is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA, where he was awarded the prestigious Joe Zawinul Scholarship.

Roberts’ repertoire includes a busy schedule of music directing, performing and composing music within the many palettes of the music world. He has been music director for numerous theaters, most notably for the Timbers Dinner Theater, Mt. Gretna, PA, since 1985. He has arranged music for a number of nationally released children’s CD’s. Internationally, Roberts has toured Japan several times with soul music legends, The Three Degrees.

Roberts current project, “Under the Radar”, is his premiere CD as bandleader/composer. “Under the Radar” is jazz based with a nod towards progressive rock. It features many of the great musicians associated with the Central PA music scene.

As a bandleader, Roberts has lead and co-lead several different projects as creative outlets for original music and arrangements. Current bands include The Four Piece Quartet, Meantime, Two Man Group, the Andy Roberts Group and Andy Roberts & Guests. His music has been featured on National Public Radio (NPR) and RUV Icelandic Radio.

As an educator, Roberts teaches jazz studies at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA. He co-leads the “Music in Schools” program that presents introductory jazz and improvisation programs to Berks County schools