Rare Howard Roberts Performance "Skylark" | The Howard Roberts Sessions 

In 1966 I copped a lick off one of Howard's LP's and played it on the gig that night. Someone in the audience hollered 'Howard Roberts!' and it completely freaked me. I couldn't believe that another person in the world was even hip to Howard Roberts. I never did that again.

For a decades-long HR fan like me, this is an incredible treat. Enjoy you guys' comments, along with the goose-bump-creating HR playing. Wow!

Thank you all for the unique comments and appreciation! We are so happy to see this footage viewed by folks that really enjoy it. Thanks for Commenting!!

I studied with Howard in 1975 never got to see him live Thanks Jay my prayer was answered That was awesome to the very max

So great to hear HR stretch! This is a jazz guitar video for the ages!

I have several of his records but never heard him play this way. Very cool.

Effortless perfection. This is pure love. We all emulate but there will just never be another HR. I always feel privileged just to listen.

That’s the late, great Bobby Peterson on Rhodes (Billy's cousin, formerly of the Buddy Rich band and the Twin Cities' Natural Life with guitarist Mike Elliot)

God dang- your dad was out of this world!!!

I was at a small music store in Anaheim, California when Roberts took delivery of the Gibson prototype and did a mini-concert with his band. Those of us lucky enough to be in the store at the time were treated to an experience I've never forgotten, and never will. I sat on the carpet mesmerized by what I was hearing. I was young and had never seen a guitarist of Roberts caliber before. I remember him making a comment about the guitar being extremely heavy (it was his first time playing it). I really appreciate the video upload, because this is basically what I witnessed that day. I remember the whole band impressing me. They were outstanding musicians.

No comments on the Phaser in the second clip? These live Howard Roberts clips have made me a huge fan. The concert with Jeff Berlin is out of this world!

HR FTW! wins the internet for today

That’s the best HR video that I’ve seen. Thanks!!

I just sent this to the bass player, Billy Peterson. He will tell us the drummer.

Thanks for sharing this invaluable footage of HR, I met him when he came to the UK in the 1980s.

Incredible

Fabulous! Thanks Jay!

One of a kind item, HR

Way over the top! Great HR performance.

Thank you very much from across the pond for this wonderful segment hugely appreciated

Just scary subtle, like watching a thesaurus explode in slow motion. Some of those licks are beyond definition.

Fabulous as always..One of my guitar heroes for sure and think of him every time I play a gig or concert...A huge influence on me and so many other Jazz Players....not just guitarists

My Lord!! This is just off the charts. Rare footage and to hear HR stretch like this is just incredible. Thank you for this post - what a gift! Thank You

What a gem.

Incredible video of Howard Roberts. The commentary very insightful particularly the difference between a live performance and an album recording. Great job guys

Amazing stuff…I’m definitely learning the lick at 6:28

This was unbelievably great! I've watched ALL the live footage of Howard I could find and will continue to do, so thx for this.

Jay, This is so hip. Just got the link to this from Doug via one of my students. That’s HR at his best. I had so many opportunities to hear him play like this both in LA and here in Seattle. Thank you so much for posting this.

Great to see the master at work. Thank you so much for this amazing content

My guitar teacher turned me on to Howard back in the 60s. He has been my idol ever since. I have his albums here somewhere! :O) What a genius.

Benson amp, I just sent to Ron. Someone in UK sent me 3-4 CDs of HR live at Donte's, priceless. Certainly there must be loads of videos and audio recordings of HR performing giving lessons doing seminars etc at GIT and elsewhere, been searching for those for years it's like searching for the Ark of the Covenant. hey Jay, cliff in tokyo.

That was incredibly cool to see! You can just hear how much of an absolute virtuoso that man was

This is great. I showed to my guitar playing friend who loved it--------he wished there was close up of Howard's hands running the fret board.

The keyboard doesn' t comp tastefuly . H.R. deserves the highest partners since he plays high voltage MELODIC LINES and his developments are the most perfectly built .

At 5:33 he wasn't being comical he was quoting "It Might as well be spring"

Sometime late 70s he was at Port Townsend, part of the Centrum Jazz Clinics. He sat in with our group and was so excited about playing and loads of ideas on what to do with the tune. He started out just listening- but it seems he just couldn’t help it and had to play also. Great memory. I did a bunch of ‘jam’ session with Jill back in the old days too.

So, Jay, this is the guitar that you & John Schroeder got to play and forgot to put back in the case? That guitar has a lot of esoteric history too!

Love it.

HR was judged GUILTY!!! for being a dirty, funky, swamp bossa nova guitar player.

Great guitar! Pairing with Billy P and.Bobby P, can't go wrong! But who's on drums? Kenny H?

How does he do it? Color Him Funky great! How many Capital Lp’s did Roberts Record ? How many have never been reissued? I would suggest you get ahold of Don Was at Blue Note ( now part Capital located in the Tower). It would be a huge acknowledgment of Howard to get a package of his stuff out on the Label. Don Was is a stellar musician and President of Blue Note. Peace

Jay thank you for making this video I didn't realize this was the number one prototype I always said it was the black guitar that Chuck Burge had made but you speaking about it being the number one did a close up and I tried to get the colors out and sure enough I recognize this guitar ru-vid.comxu4ya9kBnQI

HR was judged GUILTY!!! on 11 separate counts of being a dirty, funky, swamp, bossa nova guitar player.

Are you ever going to re-release any of the HR educational books?