-Dr. Steven Gurgevich

-Mark Sanders

-Dr. Steven Gurgevich

This is a great opportunity to be part of this project. We will be shooting live footage for the documentary as well as recording the concert. Seating is Limited, so get your tickets NOW!

The Players performing that night have all played with HR earlier in their careers. However, Dan Dean and Do Mock have never performed Live together. So this is landmark in it’s own right. I can’t wait to watch the sparks fly!
I wanted to update you on the progress with the Howard Roberts Project as of 4/10/13. This Production is really building a head of steam – I know that I’ve said that before, but now there is interest coming from all directions!

First of all, the tune selection has changed, and we are now doing ALL HR original tunes. There will be a unique take on each tune, as the players bring in their unique influence. There has been a big push to raise the bar on the choice of studios to record at. Therefore, we are recording at Studio X in Seattle (previously Bad Animals studio), and working with an engineer that recorded HR back in the day. This is the first call studio in the Seattle area. That session will happen May 7th.

Secondly, we will be recording at CAPITOL Records in Hollywood, on May 31st and June 1st which is where HR recorded 9 of his albums. This will be landmark, as we will capture footage for the documentary as well many great stories from the incredible list of musicians participating. Howard was one of the first guys to record at Capitol Records, back in 1956, when they first opened there doors. I have all of the players lined up and ready to go, as well as the videographers and first call LA Engineer. The tunes and charts are selected as well.

-Jay Roberts

-Richard Crowell

Thanks,
Eugean Thompson

I wanted to update you on the progress with the Howard Roberts Project as of 4/10/13. This Production is really building a head of steam – I know that I’ve said that before, but now there is interest coming from all directions! First of all, the tune selection has changed, and we are now doing ALL HR original tunes. There will be a unique take on each tune, as the players bring in their unique influence. There has been a big push to raise the bar on the choice of studios to record at. Therefore, we are recording at Studio X in seattle (previously Bad Animals studio), and workng with an engineer that recorded HR back in the day. This is the first call studio in the Seattle area. That session will happen May 7th. Secondly, we will be recording at CAPITOL Records in Hollywood, on May 31st and June 1st which is where HR recorded 9 of his albums. This will be landmark, as we will capture footage for the documentary as well many great stories from the incredible list of musicians participating. Howard was one of the first guys to record at Capitol Records, back in 1956, when they first opened there doors. I have all of the players lined up and ready to go, as well as the videographers and first call LA Engineer. The tunes and charts are selected as well.
The latest wonderful news is the connection with Phil Marshall. His dad, Jack Marshall, was not only one of HR’s best friends, but also his producer and arranger. In fact, was responsible for helping to establish HR’s career in LA (1950). His son, Phil, is a legendary Grammy winning music producer and Hollywood film score conductor/ arranger. His brother Frank Marshall is one of hollywoods biggest film producers (9 oscars), including Raiders of the lost ark, Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones. One could say that this family is heavily “plugged in” in the film and music scene. Google these guys, it’s amazing.
So, the punchline is – Phil is planning to write and arrange parts for a STRING QUARTET to perform on this project, an amazing offer and quality addition to the project!!! Phil also spent a lot of time with HR, and has great stories to share for the Documentary.
Very Exciting!
We have shot 13 interviews so far, that are amazing. 6 hrs of footage to pull from. Interviewees include; Carol Kaye, Lee Ritenour, Chuck Berghofer, Mitch Holder, Bob Bain, Mike Anthony, Tim May, Ron Benson, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Les Wise, Wolf Marshal, Jimmy Stewart and Madelyn Roberts and MANY more to come!
I have started editing clips together, and it’s becoming clear that Howard Roberts was a very heavy cat, and he made a huge influence on these musicians. It’s a wonderful story!

Stay Tuned
Jay Roberts

I met HR in Sausalito in early 1965, where he was playing with pianist Clare Fisher at a restaurant owned by one of the Kingston Trio. The name of the restaurant escapes me, as does that of the bass player and drummer. From the reactions at our table, HR guessed we were guitar players. He came over and sat with us every break, and invited us to his hotel room the next day, where he spent a patient 4 hours showing guys who weren’t anywhere near his talent level how to play way above ours.

When I moved to Los Angeles, I renewed the friendship, setting up a standing reservation at Donte’s whenever HR was playing. I can be heard several times on the Magic Band CDs, cheering.

I moved to New York in 1970, but spoke to HR frequently by phone. When he set up Playback Publishing, he needed to make an out-of-state sale, so I was (I believe) his first customer, buying a hand-written manuscript called “Guitar Solo Tex-Mex” (donated to Mike Evans), and then each book as it came of the presses.

Our phone calls became less frequent, and the friendship faded away by about 1975. That is one of the great mistakes of my life.

-Larry Bellinger

-Rob

-Rob