VOCODER OVERDOSE!!
by DFITZEE on 6/5/13Gramercy Theatre - New YorkThe good news is Robert Glasper and his band are incredible musicians; individually and collectively. The bad news is that Monday's performance did not show what this band can do. After a two hour delay; I was not expecting an evening of songs that included Casey Benjamin singing through the vocoder on EVERY song. This was bizarre and frustrating; to say the least. The only song that was the least bit enjoyable was when Jeannine(?) Bailey came out and brought us back to the days of the early female jazz singers; what a treat!! I guess that's the potential when attending a jazz show; improvising is part of the history. One or two songs maybe; but all night?? What makes it sting a little more is that my wife and I caught Robert about five years ago; performing at the theater of Columbia University; and was a fan from that night on. Next time Robert; please give us more of what we came for; and less of that damn vocoder!!