Bringing the Funk

It's not every day the people of Phillips County get a chance to hear live Funk, Soul, R&B or Salsa music...it might only come once in a lifetime.

Well, that day is nearly upon us.

John Roberts and Y Pan Blanco will be performing at Malta High School on Monday, October 3 starting at 7 p.m. Roberts – a former Malta resident and MHS graduate (1992) – will be joined by his brother Tony Roberts at the performance for a night of "melding high energy, danceable Funk, African and Salsa grooves with blistering instrumental solos, all aimed at sharing musical diversity with the audience," according to a recent Northeastern Arts Network (NAN) press release. The concert is the first of several in the Big Sky Concert Series to be held in Malta thanks to NAN.

Roberts told the Phillips County News that those in attendance can expect high energy solos by some incredible musicians.

"I also have a friend that is coming with me who will add a lot to the show," John said. "He's a Cuban Conga (drum) player and it is going to be nice to him around."

Besides playing with several bands, John is the Assistant Professor of Low Brass at Montana State University – Billings. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from Montana State – Billings and received his Master of Fine Arts in Western Orchestral Trombone Performance from California Institute of the Arts. He also conducts the Jazz ensembles and teaches World Music.

For the past 17 years John – son of Malta's Janice and John Roberts -- has toured, recorded, and performed in Los Angeles, around the U.S. and around the world, including Mexico, India, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, Australia and Africa. Tours include Los Pinguos (Argentina),The Temptations, and The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. Other performances and recordings include 2008 and 2009 Grammys, Chris Botti, Feist, Sting, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Frank Sinatra Jr., Chaka Khan, Burt Bacharach, The O'Jays, Christina Aguilera, NPR, PBS, Disney and Dr. Dre.

"I recorded a lot of things with (Dr. Dre)" John said. "The most recent was on the soundtrack of Straight out of Compton. It's just a little snippet at the beginning of one of the songs."

The Roberts brothers are two of a six piece energetic group that is designed to make the audience move, according the NAN. Tony Roberts has played in Y Pan Blanco (Spanish for "and white bread") for the last two years.

John said that when he left MSU-B and moved to Los Angeles, Calif., he became more aware of different types of music and touring with the African and Cuban musical acts only heightened that awareness. John said that he grew up with lots of different types of live music in his home – his mother is a local piano teacher – and she absolutely inspired his love of music. While he attended Malta High School, John was a member of the school's Choir, Concert Band and Jazz Band. He said the Jazz Band – under the tutelage of Erik Engebretson – was first formed while he was a student at the school and helped broaden his awareness of different music. Learning music from Engebretson and Larry Swingen also played a part in John's chosen profession as a musician.

John said he has enjoyed everyone he has worked with over his career, but two of this personal highlights were touring with Womack (who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009) for 14 years and touring with Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca.

"They play Cuban and African (music) and I still play with them," John said.

Monday night's performance won't be the first time John has come back to Phillips County as he has come home to work in area schools a few times since moving back to Montana from California. Monday night's show also won't be the only place you can find John on the Hi-Line in the coming days as he will play at an assembly at Dodson School on Monday morning at 9:30 before heading to Saco on Tuesday and then Hinsdale and onto Glasgow.

"We will be there on the Hi-Line for the week," John added. "We kind of talk about the music and play a few tunes."