The biggest headlining gig to date so far in the UK by Robert Glasper and the first appearance of the brand new Pat Metheny Unity Band have just been confirmed for shows later in 2012 by London’s Barbican. The gigs mark the return of two of the most influential jazz musicians of our times, one a master who first made his mark in the 1970s, the other a new force to be reckoned with exerting wide influence over a generation as at ease with jazz as it is with hip hop and neo-soul.

Metheny, who has 18 Grammys to his name and is one of the most enduringly influential and creative jazz- and rock-influenced guitarists on the planet, comes to the UK with a new band dubbed the Pat Metheny Unity Band with saxophonist Chris Potter, bassist Ben Williams and long time drummer Antonio Sanchez. Metheny released a solo guitar record What’s It All About last year which for the first time in the guitarist’s long playing career, dating back to before 70s debut album Bright Size Life, featured primarily rock and pop covers often tunes he plays at soundchecks, and which fans had often asked him over the years to record. There’s no word yet of a recording by the new high powered Unity Band. 

Robert Glasper, who is on the cover of Jazzwise for the first time featuring on the front of the February issue published later this week, is about to release Black Radio, his most ambitious record to date. Featuring a host of hip hop and neo-soul household names including Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco, Ledisi, Erykah Badu and Bilal along with his band the Experiment, Glasper is in the vanguard of the latest wave of jazz musicians to bring their music to a new audience many of whom are dipping their toes in improvising waters for the first time. His potent blend of Herbie Hancock-influenced piano and keyboards flair, hip hop, accessible beats, and blinding solo runs was witnessed by an enthusiastic crowd of young gig goers at indie venue XOYO back in November where Glasper on Motif keyboards developed numbers organically with nods to daisy age hip hop, with among the highlights the great Beatles song ‘Yesterday’ segueing via Casey Benjamin on vocodered vocals into Hancock’s ‘Butterfly’.

Glasper speaking exclusively to Jazzwise for the cover story says: “I just feel people have one narrow mind and a certain idea of what jazz is supposed to sound like. To me, jazz is the present, all the time, and that’s why I bring current elements into the music, because this is what I have a connection with.”

– Stephen Graham

Robert Glasper (pictured above left) and Pat Metheny

The Robert Glasper Experiment featuring Bilal play the Barbican in London on 14 May. The Pat Metheny Unity Band play there on 8 July. For tickets go to www.barbican.org.uk