Bryn Roberts

About Bryn

Bryn Roberts is a well-respected jazz pianist, an acclaimed composer, a sought-after collaborator for musicians across many genres, and an experienced educator. As a bandleader, Roberts has performed with his own groups at festivals and clubs across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Spain, and Japan with some of the world’s finest musicians, including Matt Penman, Jochen Rueckert, Rodney Green, Joe Martin, Jaleel Shaw, Johnathan Blake, Mark Ferber, Ira Coleman, and Tommy Crane. Originally from Canada, Roberts lived in New York City for 15 years and remains a frequent performer at nationally-renowned clubs like Smalls, Mezzrow, The Jazz Gallery, and Dizzy’s, as well as in respected venues around the world.

As a sideman Roberts has performed with saxophonists Seamus Blake, Jon Gordon, and Will Vinson; Grammy-nominated trombonist Alan Ferber; legendary bassist Chuck Israels; and vocalists Shoshana Bean and Caity Gyorgy, amongst many others. In addition to his work in jazz and improvised music, Roberts has played and toured with many artists in the singer-songwriter world, including Grammy Award winners Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal, Shawn Colvin, Stax records legend William Bell, and folk icon Dar Williams.

Roberts has released multiple albums featuring his own music: his debut Present Tense, Ludlow (featuring Seamus Blake, Drew Guess, and Mark Ferber), Fables (with Orlando le Fleming and Johnathan Blake) and two duo albums with guitarist Lage Lund, Nightsong, and Hide The Moon and the Stars. Roberts' latest album, his trio debut Aloft, features Interlochen alumnus Quincy Davis on drums.

In addition to his many years of private piano instruction and international experience as a clinician, Roberts has taught ear training at McGill University in Montreal, and until joining Interlochen Arts Academy was adjunct professor of Jazz Piano and Arranging at the University of Portland in Oregon.

I strive to create an inclusive, open, and collaborative environment when I teach. I encourage my students to learn directly from our primary sources in jazz: the great performers, improvisers, and composers of the tradition and beyond. I believe we can best learn to play this music by diving deep into the repertoire, and sharing it on the bandstand with other musicians.