New York-based cellist Hank Roberts (Indiana, 1954) established his credentials by playing with Bill Frisell and Tim Berne. His music is mainly influenced by free-jazz but also incorporates elements of soul, blues and classical music. His technique at the cello often mimicks other instruments, both western (harp), rock (guitar) and eastern (sarod, kora). His falsetto (when he sings) indulges in metaphysical croons à la Robert Wyatt.
Black Pastels (december 1987 - JMT, 1988) is his "experimental" album, but, unlike most improvisors of his generation, Roberts always keeps an eye on the tradition even when he is inventing new sounds; so much so that some of his most avantgarde pieces sound like variations on square dances or bluegrass breakdowns. The ensemble includes guitarist Bill Frisell, saxophonist Tim Berne, drummer Joey Baron and three trombonists (Ray Anderson, Robin Eubanks, Dave Taylor). Black Pastels is emblematic of Roberts' mixture of neoclassical and folkish attitudes, as well as of his preference for organic, well-formed structures, that in this case lead to a sort of voodoo chant and a sinister beat. Even the mournful elegy of the horns in Choqueno, that initially sounds abstract and free-form, eventually picks up rhythm and grows into a vibrant fanfare. Granpappy's Barn Dance Death Dance is a looser (and hilarious) set of variations, from free-jazz improvisation to circus music to lounge shuffle to childish noises. Even funnier is Scarecrow Shakedown, jump blues for a mental asylum. Throughout the album, wit and elegance coexist and feed each other. Lucky's Lament is the exception to the rule: a dejected lamentation leads to a tragic atmosphere, somewhere between a Native-American chant and a New Orleans funeral.
Arcado (february 1989 - JMT, 1989) is a string trio with Mark Dresser and Mark Feldman. Arcado became a project on its own and also released Behind The Myth (march 1990 - JMT, 1990) and For Three Strings And Orchestra (june 1991 - JMT, 1992).
Birds Of Prey (february 1990 - JMT, 1990) is a funky combo led by Roberts, that performs songs (with a female vocalist more reminiscent of rock vocalists than of jazz vocalists). The instruments are cello, guitar, drums and bass. Their songs are occasionally rocking and vibrant (Comin' Home), with epic socio-political overtones (Seven Generations, Hear Me). The most energetic number, Angels And Mud, is redolent of hard-rock and prog-rock. The brief Scream is almost punk-rock.
His eclectism permeates Little Motor People (december 1992 - Verve, 1993) with Django Bates on keyboards and Arto Tuncboyaci on percussion. The 18-minute Saturday Sunday is a veritable collage of musical styles of the American heartland in the tradition of Copland and Ives rather than jazz, although performed from a jazz viewpoint.
22 Years From Now (june 1996 - Level Green, 1997) is a solo cello and vocals work that was recorded in a monastery in 1996.
I'll Always Remember (Level Green, 1998) is the trio of Roberts, Bill King (drums) and Peter Chwazik (bass), playing a relatively soulful music that is more akin to progressive-rock.
The Truth and Reconciliation Show (september 2002 - Hipitch, 2002) showcases Roberts' compositions for large ensemble (cello, horns, guitar, keyboards, drums, bass).
Green (2008) is a lightweight detour into rock, folk and even pop in a trio with Marc Ducret and Jim Black.
Roberts sings and plays "jazzaphone fiddle" on Everything Is Alive (september 2010), a live-in-the-studio jam with Bill Frisell (electric and acoustic guitar), Jerome Harris (acoustic bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals), and Kenny Wollesen (percussion).
Roberts played on Harris Eisenstadt's Recent Developments (june 2016) with Anna Webber on flute, Sara Schoenbeck on bassoon, Nate Wooley on trumpet, Jeb Bishop on trombone, Dan Peck on tuba, Brandon Seabrook on banjo, Eivind Opsvik on bass and Hank Roberts on cello.
Ghost Dance (june 2018) documents a live performance
with Italian trombonist Filippo Vignato (also on electronics).
Vignato and Roberts also formed Pipe Dream with Zeno De Rossi (drums), Giorgio Pacorig (electric piano) and Pasquale Mirra (vibraphone) which debuted
with Pipe Dream (october 2017).
Congeries Of Ethereal Phenomena (2019) documents a trio with
Jacob Sacks (piano) and Vinnie Sperrazza (drums).
The Hank Roberts sextet, featuring Mike McGinnis (clarinet & soprano sax), Brian Drye (trombone), Dana Lyn (violin), Jacob Sacks (piano) and Vinnie Sperrazza (drums), recorded Science Of Love (june 2017),
mostly taken up by the 45-minute G.
Adagio (november 2022) documents a collaboration with Italian trombonist Filippo Vignato.
