Winning Sound

The Robert Glasper Experiment takes listeners to a rare place where jazz, hip-hop, funk, R&B and rock gracefully coexist. Glasper's groundbreaking Black Radio has become an artistic and commercial success, winning the 2013 Grammy for Best R&B Album by transcending traditional R&B while drawing on myriad influences showcased by such talents as Erykah Badu, Lalah Hathaway, Lupe Fiasco and Mos Def. "To me, it's R&B with hip-hop and jazz influences," says the pianist and composer, who performs April 20 at the Ohio Theatre as part of the Tri-C JazzFest. "It's very free and honest music, not cookie-cutter music."

The Grammy honor was not entirely surprising as Black Radio debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard Top 200 following its February 2012 release. Yet, Glasper remains somewhat amazed he's joining previous R&B winners such as Chris Brown, Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys.

"It was weird, I really didn't believe it at first," he says. "People in R&B have gone 10, 20, 30 years and never won this. We jumped into it for the first time and won."

The majority of the album was recorded improv in just four days in Los Angeles. "We just went into the studio and hit the record button," says Glasper, who teamed up with group members Casey Benjamin, Derrick Hodge and Chris Dave.

"We'd go from Wu-Tang to Cyndi Lauper," he says. "It was like an iPod shuffle."

Featuring new takes on songs by Sade, David Bowie and Nirvana, Black Radio has expanded Glasper's audience. "Our live shows have a healthy dose of jazz, hip-hop and R&B," he says. "It's like Herbie [Hancock] says, 'Improvisation lends itself to change. And music has always been about change.' "

1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, tricjazzfest.com