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Episode details

Radio 4,05 Jun 2012,20 mins

05/06/2012

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American jazz pianist Marcus Roberts talks to Peter White about his music and the impact his blindness has had on his career. As a child Marcus was encouraged to play the piano by his parents, particularly his mother, who was also very musical. Marcus says one of the things that attracted him to the instrument was the fact that id didn't move and he could feel its size. The legendary musician Wynton Marsalis took Marcus under his wing and gave him his real big break, by inviting him to play in his band. Marsalis described Marcus as a genius musician and Marcus says his own style and writing is influenced by Marsalis. Marcus talks of the frustrations of being blind and how he wishes he could conduct an orchestra. Along with his other band members, he demonstrates some of the tricks and techniques they use when playing together, to know both when to end, and when to begin.

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