HR Project Documentary Part 1 of 5 "In His Own Words" | The Howard Roberts Sessions Ep. 1

This video features part 1 of 5 of “The HR Project” documentary that Jay Roberts completed in 2014. It’s our pleasure to share with you the first installment “In His Own Words”, featuring an NPR interview with Howard Roberts.
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HR Documentary Credits:
Recording and Video Production - Jay Roberts
Video & Photography - Brian Lawson,
Photography - Andrea Auge
and a long list of supporters!

[@larrylorenzen2449]

Jay, Thanks so much for doing this! My father gigged with your Dad in the late 40s in Phoenix and I met your sister, Madelyn, a few years ago at a jam session. I was the one who sold her the '67 Epiphone HR model which, believe, is now in your hands. So glad it wound up in the Roberts family. It drives me nuts when Howard is left off of the various lists of great guitarists I see now and then on the internet. I was able to meet him at the UofA during a seminar and again later when he played in Phoenix at a small venue.....an astounding player and real nice guy!

[@jamesjohnson2900]

Roberts was a genius monster on guitar - end of. He played more guitar than 10 players combined. His concepts for guitar, can’t be overestimated.

[@ClarenceHW]

Thanks Jay & Brandon! Jay, met your dad around 1971-72, drove my International Step van to L.A. from Tucson to take one of the week-long seminars at the old Knickerbocker hotel. The seminar changed my life and I ended up working professionally for 50+ years. Jazz, Rock, pit orchestras...etc. After the seminar your dad took a few of us to a bar for a drink.. little bar, pitch black inside...your dad, shades & all navigated to a table as cool as it gets, the rest of us are stumbling tripping over chairs. Never saw him without the shades. Had a couple of friends come in fora jam the 2nd or 3rd day of the seminar... Joe Pass and Herb Ellis joined your dad on a few tunes. Thanks again!

[@normanspurgeon5324]

The little clips of Howard's playing are so valuable- this is a great video- please post more- very inspiring to hear about him.

[@vampyros1]

Howard, for me, was the greatest jazz guitarist to ever draw breath. His choice of notes and phrasing were simply incomparable. Divined taste was his forte. Thanks for posting this!

[@jambo175]

I had the good fortune to attend one of Howard’s two day seminars in the Chicago area back during the late ‘70s. His teaching ideas changed my playing and my life. I find myself, 50 years later, still referencing his material and some of the wisdom he shared. What a fascinating individual, outstanding musician, and great teacher. More guitar players should know of him. I will never forget.

[@MilesSaysWords]

Love HR. First found out about him because Robbie Robertson used the Epiphone model of his guitar during the Big Pink sessions. I'm a rock n roll drummer but have learned so much from HR. The way he blends in the blues and country licks is masterful.

[@sheercerebralpower]

I met briefly your dad, alongside Tommy Tedesco when I went to the GIT auditions in London in 1987ish…I was completely decided upon enrolling at the GIT, which I did, but then didn’t go, as I started working as a guitar player, due to the fact of having to provide for a kid soon later. Your dad played incendiary guitar there, as did Tommy Tedesco as did Don Mock. They all blew me away!

[@Draxtor]

Fantastic! I am the proud owner of the Guitar Compendium CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Greetings from Germany :)

[@iceWaterProductions1]

This is incredible what you did to preserve your dads legacy. This will also turn the children onto the “good stuff” JAZZ GUITAR. I believe it starts in the family. We have to play this music for the children as they grow up and then their less likely to be influenced by the sewer pipe that flows out of mainstream entertainment and other deviant sources.

[@Brett6165]

Love it. Wish we had some bootleg second take tracks on here of some early recordings. Jay - ya must have them stashed somewhere.

[@davidschoenborn6378]

Quality production there, folks. Great job, Jay and Brandon!

[@Wyrdo999]

One of my ALL TIME favourite guitar players. I love his version of Angel Eyes.

[@dyskover]

I've been watching clips of 'the wrecking crew' and somehow I missed picking up on Howard's presence. I guess you could say he had command of his instrument and incredible musicality. Looking forward to the rest of this series!

[@christiangasior4244]

I had no idea he played on all these famous TV show themes and such. I just know him from his albums with Earl Palmer and also Good Pickins for Verve Records. He is very addictive to listen to. It’s amazing that people who were so important can pass away and most people don’t even realize.

[@campparsonssundayschool7844]

Hi Jay. I took lessons from you at Ray’s music exchange in North City, Seattle back in 1983.

[@Steve-gw2gn]

Cool stuff. Incredible career as a mentor and amazing artist... among other things. A real builder who "contaminated" players across the planet when it comes to learn and express music.

[@PabloGarcia-sf7bn]

Your Pops was the coolest! Greetings from New Mexico

[@edteaches]

It is awesome to see one of the greatest jazz guitarists' son take the time to share the legacy of his dad. I think that is a wonderful way to honor your father. He was not only a great guitarist but a passionate educator. I learned about him from my first jazz guitar teacher. Thanks for posting!

[@funbebop]

Wow, this is so Cool ! Thanks for doing this channel ! I met HR in 1990 or so when I was a student at Bellarmine College , he did a guitar clinic. I was so young I didn't really comprehend that I was hanging out with perhaps one of the greatest guitarist of all time and probably the best guitar educator in the world ... please post up more rare video and audio !!!

[@cgptony11]

Bout time!!!!

[@cliffworks748]

Jay thanks man I just sent to Ronny Benson amps galore in this vid. HR died 62 years old how tragic. cliff in tokyo

[@gerriepieters9033]

I LOVE YOUR FATHER. and.. I have met him in Germany..

[@jamesbowers1521]

A beautiful tribute.

[@roywillis2750]

Thank you for the vids my friends. I have found it difficult to find and view any HR material so far, so this is a massive bonus for me who "back in the day " followed the wisdom of HR's instruction in Guitar Player magazine. I was never able to attend any seminars etc. as I live in the UK.... BUT, was inspired to persue my love for the instrument and at 80 am still playing !

[@boparker4578]

I played for years before discovering Howard Roberts. I lived in a remote area of the Rockies and didn’t listen to jazz or know those circles. But I would try to learn new things all the time and one day I came across a book (jazz triads mostly) by him. I bought it and tried to make sense of it. Over the years it made more and more sense to me and helped me a lot … to go places I wanted to go. I started listening to more jazz (especially great guitarist) and getting into the 251 thing. Howard Roberts became a mentor and hero to me long before I knew of his accomplishments …. Because of his writing and teaching. Later I listened to more of his playing but I had to develop as a listener for that and then to play better too. Thanks to all for putting together and publishing all this information about Howard Roberts …. I’ll watch it all. Thanks again

[@realitynuggets6204]

This is amazing. I still remember the first time I heard HR take off on Bobby Troup's Thou Swell. Blown away, and hooked for a loooong time.

[@davidkettlewell829]

solid gold...what a phenomenal talent...thx

[@AncientApparatus]

Wow 62 years old...that's way too young to die & I know that because my mom was only 61 so me & my brothers were not only devastated but surprised as well.

[@jamesmurry5910]

Howard Roberts is my all-time guitar hero! Who has ever swing harder than Howard Roberts?

[@blainecollins624]

This is a great documentary. Well done, Jay and Brandon.

[@grahamb.4447]

Howard had a column in Guitar Player magazine and two articles were related to "Sonic Shapes". This was way ahead of its time

[@joeh23]

Thank you for a great documentary. I was lucky enough to attend one of your dads seminars back in the 70's. I still have the cassette tapes and class materials which I use up to this day. He was a great player, a great man and an inspiration.

[@iceWaterProductions1]

This is so amazing.

[@surprisedmike]

Very nice. My favorite guitar player!

[@RATCLIFFE-LISTENS]

Thank You Simply the finest Jazz Guitarist so smoooooth Jay ain't too bad either!

[@devinpatrickmusic]

Thanks for your work on the channel! I only recently discovered HR ,and have been inspired to listen to his incredible catalogue and try to learn some of his wonderful guitar lines, he’s a musician’s musician and these documentary episodes are really great!

[@teebeeferris]

Love him !

[@wendazonnefeld5692]

I’m such a fan! Beautifully executed gentlemen!

[@RobertsMusicInstitute]

Thank you Wenda!!

[@jsims149]

Thanks guys this is wonderful and most generous!!

[@cliffworks748]

didnt know Ezzard played bass! he was one of greatest boxers!

[@elimakowski1469]

YES!

[@RobertsMusicInstitute]

Miss you buddy, Glad you are digging" the series!

[@JavierTijuana]

Great documentary on the genius of Howard Roberts.

[@frednormanguitarist6603]

There have been so many good guitarists - too numerous to mention here - but for me, the "Big Three" would have to be George Van Eps, Johnny Smith, and Howard Roberts. Out of these three, the one best documented (to my knowledge) is probably Howard Roberts. Thank you, Jay, Brandon, and the entire production team at RMI for giving us "The Howard Roberts Sessions". I'm looking forward to all future installments...40+ hours worth. WOW...let's hope so!

[@agzephyr]

You know how I can tell you guys love music? Your KZbin videos are mastered correctly :D

[@SPGGuitar251]

The master

[@RavnerRavner]

when you find the channel you always wanted....

[@132petrit]

Hello Jay, iam asking you what kind strings and picks your father Howard using his later days, i know he trimming his guitars good, dressing frets and more, i know he using heavy strings his black guitar and acoustic, but i mean his thin guitars, is he playing flatwounds, and how heavy picks he's used using, I'm big fan Howard 👍 Thank you.

[@andybaldman]

He won’t read this. Because he doesn’t care.

[@JackTheSkunk]

Hey Jay...just curious if your brothers played guitar also and if your Dad gave you lessons or you just sort of picked it up from watching him at home?

[@PatrickTengmusic]

I like to order all HR tutorials n videos n lessons etc whatever please give me the link 🙏

[@jeffreybiscoe6]

Good stuff just realizing how many times I've heard your Father without knowing who he was ,my sincere apologies.

[@RATCLIFFE-LISTENS]

Jay don't you own the Masters to Howards Capitol Recordings Its time to get Howard on KZbin big time. Everything. I bet Don Was would do new group of re_releases or a Box set. Jay Roberts Should be reissuing stuff too. Don't let us miss the Family genius. Chico Hamalton introduced us to Larry Coryell as well. With so much strife in the World a little can't hurt no one Bless you and your Family this Mothers day. Respectfully Michael

[@liftthathigher]

me wants to snuggle cuddly dwarf men.. not in a creepy way....