Jim Roberts

Best known for his association with the late trumpet master Howard McGhee, Jim Roberts is a highly lyrical and melodic pianist who has named Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock as main influences. Roberts was born in Melrose Park, IL., a Chicago suburb, and lived there as a kid before moving to northern New Jersey with his family and attending junior high and high school there. Roberts became interested in jazz piano when a high school friend turned him on to Brubeck, his earliest influence. As a young adult, he majored in music at Ohio's Muskingum Coll...