Troy Roberts – tenor & soprano saxophones
Silvano Monasterios – piano
Robert Hurst – bass
Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts – drums
Tracks
1. Decoration
2. Trams
3. Rivera Mountain
4. Bernie's Tune
5. Cotu Chi Chi Chi
6. Take the A Train
7. Pickapoppy
8. Mr. Pinononnk
9. Boozy Bluesy
Troy Roberts is a New York City based Australian saxophonist who maintains a busy performance and recording schedule with some of the greatest jazz artists of today. He’s a regular member of both The Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts Quartet and Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts’ ‘Blue 5’, and is also the newest member of Joey DeFrancesco’s new quartet, ‘The People’. Roberts’ 7th release, Tales & Tones is an acoustic quartet adventure, featuring a powerhouse rhythm section comprised of his long time collaborator, Venezuelan born pianist Silvano Monasterios, along with two of the most important names in jazz today; Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts on the drums and Robert Hurst on acoustic bass – both of whom bring more than just their jazz royalty to Roberts’ original compositions and arrangements. The tone of this record ranges from hard swinging, to pensive at times, while casually unwrapping various tales via the musical conversations amongst four great minds.
Troy Roberts – tenor & soprano saxophones
Silvano Monasterios – piano
Robert Hurst – upright bass
Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts – drums
Produced by Troy Roberts
Engineered by Danush Dopierala
Mixed & Mastered by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Studio
Recorded at Sanctuary Studios, Easton PA on March 4 & 5, 2016
Photography by Jamie Cabreza / Artwork by Stephanie Tiangco for HAM Media Group
All compositions by Troy Roberts except:
‘Rivera Mountain’ composed by John Sangster (arrangement by Troy Roberts)
‘Bernie’s Tune’ composed by Bernie Miller (arrangement by Troy Roberts)
‘Take The A Train’ composed by Billy Strayhorn (arrangement by Tim Jago & Troy Roberts)
Troy Roberts endorses Vandoren Reeds & Accessories, Thomas Woodwinds Handcrafted Mouthpieces, AMT Wireless Microphones and Audiofly Headphones
Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts endorses Sonor Drums
Robert Hurst appears courtesy of Bebob Records and Dot Time Records
“Whilst it’s not common to display virtuosity, it’s even rarer to be wonderfully creative while doing so. But the rarest of all gifts is to have a unique voice; a sound that is unmistakably your own, Troy Roberts has this gift. He amply demonstrates that it’s possible to pay homage to the great tenor players of jazz and still create a fresh approach that leaves the listener always in anticipation of what he’ll come up with next.”
- James Morrison
“While jazz is so strongly identified as swing, it is nice to see the next gen carving out their sound and ideas. Roberts, along with his well-equipped ensemble, is certainly up to the task - creating a jazz record that employs great playing and abundant ideas. Roberts, though young in age, certainly has an arsenal of abilities under his belt, and has the makings and foundation of a lasting great saxophonist. Versatile in style, with a strong grasp of yesterday and today, he is a force to be reckoned with no matter the setting. He is more than one to watch, he is one to follow closely.”
- JazzTimes Magazine
