I attended a 3 day seminar with Howard around 1975...I learned more in those 3 days than I had in the prior 10 years! And I still haven't mastered the entire curriculum 45 years later! Extremely knowledgeable instructor and a nice guy!
Howard's son Jay Roberts is a pal of mine. Howard raised his family here in Seattle after launching Guitar Institute with fellow guitarist here in Seattle Don Mock. One of the bassists I had hired quite a bit over the years is a graduate of the Musicians Institute. It was very sad when Howard passed in the early '90s. Jay and others organized a big event at Seattle's Jazz Alley called "The Big Now" celebrating Howard's life and accomplishments. I kept the post hanging above my desk at my day gig. Jay, like his father, is a phenomenal guitarist. Jay's mother, Howard's wife, was a great Jazz drummer, and as a result, Jay is a wicked drummer too. To give you context to Jay's chops in his own right, Jay released a CD with legend Joey DeFrancesco in tribute to his dad called "Son of a Dirty Guitar Player" that contained all of Howard's favorite tunes that he recorded. Like his father, Jay launched his own teaching Institute here called Roberts Music Institute. He is sponsored by Gibson Guitars and many others as well. I remember finding a rare LP of Jay's dad while trolling the bins at the Ballard (Seattle) Goodwill. It was a shocking great find that I scored for only $2.99. I called Jay to ask him if he had a copy, and he did not, so I swung by his school and dropped off the LP as a gift. After archiving it in his music collection, he mounted it under glass and it hangs on the walls of his music school. Over the decades, I have had the odd opportunity to share the stage with Jay, and it is always a fantastic musical experience. He is an amazing guitarist and a very supportive fellow musician.
Wow. I had no idea about his son! I have to check out that album. I've seen Joey DeFrancesco several times. He played with a guitar player from my home town, Dan Wilson. Additionally, I love that Goodwill story. Thanks for sharing all this!
I joined the Navy in 1963 as a guitarist. As soon as I heard Mr. Roberts play, I was hooked. Fast forward to the mid 70's, he was at Blues Alley in D.C. I went to hear him and talked some with him. He told me about a guitar seminar over the next weekend, and it was wonderful! Me and ten other guitar players in the area got to spend the weekend with him. It was the best $75 I ever spent!
According to his son Jay, Howard moved to Seattle in the early 80’s to get away from LA crime. I took guitar lessons with Jay when he was 16; incredible player even at that young age. Howard would drop into the music store (Ray’s music exchange) and say something to Jay about what to teach me.
guitar player magazine right through the 70,s at the end of each magazine articles and lessons from jerry hahn.larry Coryell, and howard roberts,i still have the magazines..
While I was not a jazz guitarist, back in the early 80's I had a chance to attend a seminar that Mr. Roberts conducted at Vanderbilt, in Nashville. As another person commented on below, I learned more in just those couple of days than you can possibly imagine. No time for any lax time as it was intense and one could not let down their guard for a moment, ha. Really glad that you selected him for your first episode of Guitar Legends.
I was a returning Vietnam veteran and my guitar playing sucked like the war I just left 1975 I attended Howard’s guitar seminar 3 full daze He was one of the most intelligent people I have ever met Still practicing the HR way Thank you Howard for everything you shared with me not only about guitar playing but how to become a better person RIP ❤️
Paradoxically, Howard didn't care for the tune "Misty." He thought it was overplayed and just not hip. However, everything he created on the guitar was extraordinary, even the silly "Winchester Cathedral," a tune that he just crushed. But then, hip is as hip does. H.R. was in essence the "Jack Nicholson" of the guitar. I profiled Howard in Vintage Guitar Magazine several years ago and helped produce a biographical DVD and tribute CD with his son, Jay Roberts, who's also a brilliant player as is H.R.'s daughter Madelyn. Btw, it was Andy Nelson, who worked as a Gibson product designer and clinician, who helped grease things for Howard's original signature model. Anyone who's truly interested should grab Mitch Holder's terrific book, 'The Guitar Stylings of Howard Roberts.' Within are several excellent transcriptions of Howard's playing. Mitch was a student and close friend of H.R.'s.
Hi Jim! Thanks very much for your work on the HR Project! I'm so very lucky to have JR as my guitar teacher! And my favorite guitar is of course an HR Fusion II that's all tricked out, with Seymour Duncan pickups, a bone nut and a coil tap switch. And it's been Plekked and Buzzed! Best Regards, Greg Robel. [ Or just call me GR! 😉 ]
You're right - every time I listen to HR's rendition of Winchester Cathedral it just blows me away - outstanding interpretation of the tune. Jaunty Jolly is one of my favorite HR albums, not to mention Sing No Blues from the same album, just great!
I was lucky enough to go to GIT in '85 to '86. I didn't know anything about HR at the time, I hadn't been exposed to his style, but I'll always remember the memorable music theory lectures he gave. He exposed you to very mind opening and expanding concepts and train of thought to be able to assimilate all the knowledge you were trying to take in every week and getting your head blown out from all the talent you were hearing. You could tell he was an extremely intelligent and gifted cool dude! And all of us students, just knowing he was the granddaddy and founder of the school, just made him that much more hip! I used to run into him at a grocery store in Hollywood while I was at school. We would just refer to him as "Uncle Howard", and he would stop and talk a little bit and ask us how he liked the school and how things were going.
Excellent- I grew up listening to HR since I first discovered him in the early sixties. To this day he is still my favorite guitar player. He was so melodic and able to play fluently in so many different styles. I own a 1976 Gibson HR Artist and a 1997 Howard Roberts Fusion III, both excellent guitars. It was a sad day when he passed away, but I"m thankful for the legacy he left behind and I really appreciate all the work Jay has done to keep his dad's name alive. Thanks for posting this, I really appreciated it.
Great video! HR was involved closely with Ron Benson on the design AND building of the Benson amps...The first Boutique Amp? I have a sweet Benson 200 that I just love...In my rich interior fantasy life, I am certain that Howard worked on my amp hissownbadself. Cheers from So Cal!
I'm curious what do you know about the Howard Roberts fusion guitars made in Japan around 1986 was a short lived and I think a lot of it was because there was a contract infringement with Gibson.🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
I've been listening to Jazz radio since the 70s, and although I don't expect to remember every piece I ever heard, I don't remember ever hearing Howard's music. Really not a lot of guitar jazz back in the day, other than Jim Hall, Wes, Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell. If they ever played Howard, it was very rarely. Was it because there was a prejudice against a session guy? Not sure.
Interesting. I speculate that since he did session work and played in other genres more so than a lot of other jazz players that he was possibly overlooked. Kind of like of like Andy Summers of The Police. He plays some great jazz, but rarely gets credit.
I attended a 3 day seminar with Howard around 1975...I learned more in those 3 days than I had in the prior 10 years! And I still haven't mastered the entire curriculum 45 years later! Extremely knowledgeable instructor and a nice guy!
So cool. I feel like some of his technique is highly underrated. He did things with ease that are actually quite difficult.
Howard's son Jay Roberts is a pal of mine. Howard raised his family here in Seattle after launching Guitar Institute with fellow guitarist here in Seattle Don Mock. One of the bassists I had hired quite a bit over the years is a graduate of the Musicians Institute. It was very sad when Howard passed in the early '90s. Jay and others organized a big event at Seattle's Jazz Alley called "The Big Now" celebrating Howard's life and accomplishments. I kept the post hanging above my desk at my day gig. Jay, like his father, is a phenomenal guitarist. Jay's mother, Howard's wife, was a great Jazz drummer, and as a result, Jay is a wicked drummer too. To give you context to Jay's chops in his own right, Jay released a CD with legend Joey DeFrancesco in tribute to his dad called "Son of a Dirty Guitar Player" that contained all of Howard's favorite tunes that he recorded.
Like his father, Jay launched his own teaching Institute here called Roberts Music Institute. He is sponsored by Gibson Guitars and many others as well. I remember finding a rare LP of Jay's dad while trolling the bins at the Ballard (Seattle) Goodwill. It was a shocking great find that I scored for only $2.99. I called Jay to ask him if he had a copy, and he did not, so I swung by his school and dropped off the LP as a gift. After archiving it in his music collection, he mounted it under glass and it hangs on the walls of his music school. Over the decades, I have had the odd opportunity to share the stage with Jay, and it is always a fantastic musical experience. He is an amazing guitarist and a very supportive fellow musician.
Wow. I had no idea about his son! I have to check out that album. I've seen Joey DeFrancesco several times. He played with a guitar player from my home town, Dan Wilson. Additionally, I love that Goodwill story. Thanks for sharing all this!
I joined the Navy in 1963 as a guitarist. As soon as I heard Mr. Roberts play, I was hooked. Fast forward to the mid 70's, he was at Blues Alley in D.C. I went to hear him and talked some with him. He told me about a guitar seminar over the next weekend, and it was wonderful! Me and ten other guitar players in the area got to spend the weekend with him. It was the best $75 I ever spent!
Wow! That is so cool! He's easily in my top 5 favorite guitar players.
@@TheMissingMethod Cool story. Yes he was an absolute beast..player...teacher. Nice job on this!
According to his son Jay, Howard moved to Seattle in the early 80’s to get away from LA crime. I took guitar lessons with Jay when he was 16; incredible player even at that young age. Howard would drop into the music store (Ray’s music exchange) and say something to Jay about what to teach me.
guitar player magazine right through the 70,s at the end of each magazine articles and lessons from jerry hahn.larry Coryell, and howard roberts,i still have the magazines..
While I was not a jazz guitarist, back in the early 80's I had a chance to attend a seminar that Mr. Roberts conducted at Vanderbilt, in Nashville. As another person commented on below, I learned more in just those couple of days than you can possibly imagine. No time for any lax time as it was intense and one could not let down their guard for a moment, ha. Really glad that you selected him for your first episode of Guitar Legends.
Awesome thanks. 👍🎶
Glad you liked it!
Very interesting!
I was a returning Vietnam veteran and my guitar playing sucked like the war I just left
1975 I attended Howard’s guitar seminar 3 full daze
He was one of the most intelligent people I have ever met
Still practicing the HR way
Thank you Howard for everything you shared with me not only about guitar playing but how to become a better person
RIP ❤️
I've been hearing great things about his seminars.
My favourite HR album was " Quiet Nights and Brazilian Guitars" by Guitars Unlimited
Just spun Turning to Spring last night. One of the very best.
Paradoxically, Howard didn't care for the tune "Misty." He thought it was overplayed and just not hip. However, everything he created on the guitar was extraordinary, even the silly "Winchester Cathedral," a tune that he just crushed. But then, hip is as hip does. H.R. was in essence the "Jack Nicholson" of the guitar. I profiled Howard in Vintage Guitar Magazine several years ago and helped produce a biographical DVD and tribute CD with his son, Jay Roberts, who's also a brilliant player as is H.R.'s daughter Madelyn. Btw, it was Andy Nelson, who worked as a Gibson product designer and clinician, who helped grease things for Howard's original signature model. Anyone who's truly interested should grab Mitch Holder's terrific book, 'The Guitar Stylings of Howard Roberts.' Within are several excellent transcriptions of Howard's playing. Mitch was a student and close friend of H.R.'s.
So Cool! I'll be sure to check out the book! Thanks.
Also, I had no idea he didn't care for "Misty". Interesting.
Hi Jim! Thanks very much for your work on the HR Project! I'm so very lucky to have JR as my guitar teacher! And my favorite guitar is of course an HR Fusion II that's all tricked out, with Seymour Duncan pickups, a bone nut and a coil tap switch. And it's been Plekked and Buzzed! Best Regards, Greg Robel.
[ Or just call me GR! 😉 ]
You're right - every time I listen to HR's rendition of Winchester Cathedral it just blows me away - outstanding interpretation of the tune. Jaunty Jolly is one of my favorite HR albums, not to mention Sing No Blues from the same album, just great!
I was lucky enough to go to GIT in '85 to '86. I didn't know anything about HR at the time, I hadn't been exposed to his style, but I'll always remember the memorable music theory lectures he gave. He exposed you to very mind opening and expanding concepts and train of thought to be able to assimilate all the knowledge you were trying to take in every week and getting your head blown out from all the talent you were hearing. You could tell he was an extremely intelligent and gifted cool dude! And all of us students, just knowing he was the granddaddy and founder of the school, just made him that much more hip! I used to run into him at a grocery store in Hollywood while I was at school. We would just refer to him as "Uncle Howard", and he would stop and talk a little bit and ask us how he liked the school and how things were going.
That is so cool!
Excellent- I grew up listening to HR since I first discovered him in the early sixties. To this day he is still my favorite guitar player. He was so melodic and able to play fluently in so many different styles. I own a 1976 Gibson HR Artist and a 1997 Howard Roberts Fusion III, both excellent guitars. It was a sad day when he passed away, but I"m thankful for the legacy he left behind and I really appreciate all the work Jay has done to keep his dad's name alive. Thanks for posting this, I really appreciated it.
H.R. is my all time favourite
Thank you! Glad you liked it.
Howard Roberts also wrote a book series with guitarist Garry Hagberg - a three volume series called praxis.
Howard Roberts was Clint Strong's jazz guitar teacher.
Cool! I didn't know that.
Thank you,Sir ⭐🌹🌹⭐
You are welcome.
I think Howard played funky guitar for the theme song for the movie "Shaft" back in 1971.
You should do an episode on Billy Strange, similar career to Howard's.
Great idea. I'll add him to my list for future videos.
"If I swing, then it's worth it." - H.R.
Great video! HR was involved closely with Ron Benson on the design AND building of the Benson amps...The first Boutique Amp?
I have a sweet Benson 200 that I just love...In my rich interior fantasy life, I am certain that Howard worked on my amp hissownbadself. Cheers from So Cal!
Nice!
Gear! There are some older pictures of him in a studio with a Fender Telecaster.
I think I have an old reel to reel with his name on it. Gotta go look.
Sweet!
Howard and Don Mock were my teachers in Seattle. Both were the best Jazz guys at the time.
Cool!
He also pioneered the concept of "Sonic Shapes" on the fretboard via his columns in the "Guitar Player" magazine
Cool. I'm going to have to look into that.
I'm curious what do you know about the Howard Roberts fusion guitars made in Japan around 1986 was a short lived and I think a lot of it was because there was a contract infringement with Gibson.🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
I'm not sure. I'll have to look into that.
Tell me what you find out🎅🏼🎅🏼👀👀@@TheMissingMethod
IIRC Tommy Tedesco played the Batman Theme.
Man, please do a feature on New Orleans guitar teacher “Hank Mackie”… his students = Steve masakowski, Davy Mooney, Emily remler etc
I've been listening to Jazz radio since the 70s, and although I don't expect to remember every piece I ever heard, I don't remember ever hearing Howard's music. Really not a lot of guitar jazz back in the day, other than Jim Hall, Wes, Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell. If they ever played Howard, it was very rarely. Was it because there was a prejudice against a session guy? Not sure.
Interesting. I speculate that since he did session work and played in other genres more so than a lot of other jazz players that he was possibly overlooked. Kind of like of like Andy Summers of The Police. He plays some great jazz, but rarely gets credit.
I would like to know if channel operator was born before 1980?
Yes, but barely.
HR was judged GUILTY!!! for being a dirty, funky swamp bossa nova guitar player.
Gibson HRFusion!!!!
Can you Play that guitar..... You fucking talk ☝️
Why are you holding the guitar when you’re giving us a history lesson?
It's comfortable.
Why r u holding a guitar if u have no intention of playing it
I find it comfortable. Just the way I do things.