Howard Roberts - Angel Eyes (audio only)

[herbiesnerd]

He was my dads guitar teacher in the 50's. Dad went to his apartment in L.A. for the lessons. My dad is 81 now and still plays those beautiful jazz chords HR taught him.

[GeorgiaBoy1961]

I own several 1960s HR jazz albums and count them as classics of the genre. he's one of those guys who went into the studios and didn't perform on his own enough to be recognized by the public as he should have been. Similar to another genius of jazz guitar - Barry Galbraith - in that respect. HR, you are missed...

[stratakat]

Back in 1983 I Auditioned for Howard at GIT, he suggested I would only be reviewing everything i already knew. and Suggested instead I got to "Dick Grove" and Study with Dick. I did, the rest is History. Thanks Howard, you were the MAN... this dedication is for you!!!

[rolandsteph]

Modes9,

Angel Eyes was meant to be a ballad. Fast music is not necessarilly the most beautiful. Although there is a place for fast music. But, not on Angel Eyes.

[pitou723]

no comment...

[MDABE80]

So tasteful...I learned him the late fiftys. Not many like this guy around anymore.

[ShaneBluesRI]

I agree with you. I also like how you emphasized the word THE.

[univibe23]

You Tube is just unreal. I too used to read his Guitar Player column every month as a teenager...it was all over my head thenand still is! Just got the idea to type his name in and see what came up and Walla!! Great stuff from the one and only!!

[sara092]

THE feeling!

[lexo30]

I used to read his columns in Guitar Player back in the day. Never heard him until now. Great stuff.

[mcquestion]

My dad had "H.R. Is A Dirty Guitar Player" on record when I was a kid. When I listened to it, I LOVED it. It just occured to me today to try and find some Howard Roberts on youtube. I didn't go that way as a musician (more of a riff rock, Eddie Van Halen wannabe, myself), but I still listen to this stuff and it gives me chills. My favorite jazz guy ever!

[guitarmajic]

This was at a NAMM show in 1976... I shot this photo... Howard was a dear friend! He is certainly missed!!!

[rebel797]

I got to play for Howard at one of his seminars in OKC,He said what I played was very kool...he was the coolest person I ever meet and the best dirtiest guitar player ever and he could drink as well...hehe

[babinm]

My fingers hurt just listening to that speed. He really had a strong attack. His books The HOward Roberts Guitar Style and Chord Melodies show the excercises he must have used a lot.

[30percentplusreturns]

By far this is the best version of angel eyes on the guitar ever. This guy was the best. Very bluesy. Real music

[GeorgiaBoy1961]

@30percentplusreturns: This version is terrific, but for my money, Wes Montgomery's version with the Wynton Kelly Trio on "Full House: Live at Tsubo's Cafe" (1963) is the best rendition. Wes does it as a beautiful chord melody with subtle bass and drums on the improv section. HR was definitely a "bad dude" on guitar, an absolute killer. Always regret not seeing him live.

[campocat]

That has always been the thing - trying to get recorded material on Howard. At least some of you saw him on the west coast.  I had 2 recordings I wore out when I was comming up. One had a lot of traffic noise mixed in.

[blick48]

I was lucky enought to see Mr Roberts perform on 2 separate occasions at the Jazz Workshop in Boston in the '60s and both times had the opportunity to chat with him in his dressing room between sets. Great guy and phenomonal and inspirational jazz guitarist.

[Arikisei]

god bless mr.roberts...,god bless the u.s.a.,god bless nippon... mr. paul

[kenouman]

I hear some Roberts in George Benson.

[woodrow1951]

If you want to hear more of Howard and this section, VSOP Records has "Howard Roberts - The Magic Band Live at Donte's" CD for sale. Great playing by all in the band. Also, Mike Evans' website mentioned as the source of the picture, is a great source of all sorts of info and pictures of Howard, and is a real labor of love. Howard was, is, and will continue to be an inspiration to musicians everywhere.

[uncleclunk]

I was fortunate enough to sit at Donte's and watch him when I was at G I T he was a great guy, let me record the whole thing on my little panasonic cassette player, still have it, will treasure it forever, sorry to the waitress, I had one rum and coke the whole time I was there, just couldn't stop listening.

[buxongs]

Total stream of melodic consciousness every one of us hopes to achieve someday.Let's get to work guitarists,,,,,

[DanielBatchelar]

I used to work with H.R. on his jazz improvisation column for Guitar Player. He was a great guy, absolutely a one-of-a-kind. H.R. grew up in Arizona and learned a lot about the blues and jazz by playing in a roadhouse on the "wrong side of the tracks." He wins a Downbeat award and becomes a (creative) studio guitarist. Trains big names, goes on to found G.I.T. and M.I. Never had a bad word to say about anyone and always made you feel like you were better than you were. H.R. will be missed.

[wlhow]

I learned my first scale from the Howard Roberts' Guitar Player column, back in the late 70's or early 80's. A mixolydian scale, which was quite a stretch for a new guitarist. Thanks!

[DanielBatchelar]

HR's columns were among THE most popular at Guitar Player. But he hated to write. So he would just talk to me about what he wanted to write about -- scales, modes, sonic shapes -- and I would ask questions and take notes and put it into the form of a column. Sounded more conversational that way. His jazz guitar seminars were sellouts, so that's when he decided, along with Pat Hicks, to found GIT, and the rest is history.

[DanielBatchelar]

Some of the greatest musical experiences I ever had were listening to HR play. Like you say, so much soul. Everything was a personal statement, flawlessly articulated. I am sorry to hear that there isn't more video of HR, because he was one of the very best ever.

[bigbadbob58]

There are a few Mel Bay books out there that Roberts did, too. What is really funny is his son Jay's affliction with Eddie Van Halen back in the day. Every so often, Jay throws a little EVH rift in a solo during a Jazz concert.  It's a hoot! Him and Dave Ford were totally into EVH!

[wlhow]

I noticed that Jay Roberts has reissued The Howard Roberts Guitar Compendium Praxis. Don Mock seems to be affiliated with the project: Roberts Music Institute.

[4507paulh]

I met Howard several times when I was at GIT in 87 / 88. I'd been playing for 4 years and knew NOTHING!. You're right: he always made you feel a better player than you were. Rest in Peace, Howard, I hope you've hooked up again with Joe and Tommy in the great beyond. Thanks for starting GIT.

Peace, love and best wishes,

Paul

[DanielBatchelar]

I never heard HR say a bad word about anyone, particularly any other musician. In Hollywood, that made him quite exceptional. It was consistent with his personality: He liked people, he was generous with his knowledge, and incidentally, he would often pick up the tab for dinner, too. But I'm surprised to hear about Jay. HR told me he wanted to be an astronaut. But he was only nine years old or so. Things change. Things change.

[cliffworks4321]

@DanielBatchelar hey dan good to find you again, i wrote to u see in mail, tks cliff in tokyo

[cliffworks4321]

@DanielBatchelar hey dan pls get in touch with me thanks cliff in tokyo

[Modes9]

I give it three stars. I want to hear bebop...not a ballad. For that matter, I was hoping for an actual video where you could SEE him play this stuff. The playing is great, though.

[maxvolwassen]

Thanks for your comment!

Concerning the video, yes indeed I have noticed this is quite an issue among HR fans, I suggest you talk to cliffworks4321 about this.

Concerning the music, I'm really a Howard Roberts newb but I felt this song had to be shared. (: Don't really know other work.

[paulyrulo1]

@Modes9 This is a great version of the one he released on his original albums.....very tasty and he shows off some of his special techniques. Nice change of pace for this rendition. Long live HR.

[weskoki]

Maybe the first modern jazz guitarist after Wes afcourse (:

[Rowlandph]

Does ANYONE know of any video footage on Howard Roberts?...Been trying to find something for YEARS!!!...

Anyone wanting to know more about Howard, google the Howard Roberts site...

[cliffworks4321]

I too have been looking everywhere for video footage of HR who I used to dig playing at Donte's. Wrote to his son, widow and the

Robert's Music Institute, no response.

It's a cryin shame.

[SlikkTim]

Just discovering h.roberts... man he's amazing. So much soul !