Muziki Roberson Ensemble at Yoshi's Oakland

<p>A gifted, inspired pianist, composer and musician, "Muziki' has gained an impressive and respected reputation performing jazz locally, nationally and internationally for more than 30 years. Reared in Seattle, Washington, the Chicago native joined the U.S. Army immediately following high school. It was during a tour of duty in VietNam that he was introduced to jazz. Inspired by the drummer Michael Carvin and others in the Army Band, he returned to the States and taught himself to play piano. Attending college on the G.I. Bill, he studied music theory and composition.</p>

<p>Today, he resides in the San Francisco Bay Area playing piano regularly with The Muziki Roberson Quartet that features Aarron Germain on Bass, Dave Ellis on Reeds and Babatunde Lea or Ranzell Merrtitt on Drums...

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<p>A gifted, inspired pianist, composer and musician, "Muziki' has gained an impressive and respected reputation performing jazz locally, nationally and internationally for more than 30 years. Reared in Seattle, Washington, the Chicago native joined the U.S. Army immediately following high school. It was during a tour of duty in VietNam that he was introduced to jazz. Inspired by the drummer Michael Carvin and others in the Army Band, he returned to the States and taught himself to play piano. Attending college on the G.I. Bill, he studied music theory and composition.</p>

<p>Today, he resides in the San Francisco Bay Area playing piano regularly with The Muziki Roberson Quartet that features Aarron Germain on Bass, Dave Ellis on Reeds and Babatunde Lea or Ranzell Merrtitt on Drums. Vocalist Dwight Tribble performs intermittently as a guest vocalist. Previously he performed 12 years as an award-winning musician and composer with the world renowned San Francisco Mime Troupe. His composing and keyboard playing helped the brilliant Jazz/Funk/Latin music and poetry group "Mingus Amungus" garner local and international acclaim from 1993 to 2000. Among his other performance partners are inventive jazz violinist Michael White, replete with a trip to Lagos Nigeria's 1977 FESTAC where he performed with Stevie Wonder and members of the band Osibisa. He also has played with saxophonist David Murray, violinist Billy Bang and many others. "Muziki" - meaning music in Swahili - remains heavily involved with The Grassroots Composer's Workshop that he joined earlier this century. The five horn and rhythm section group focuses on composing and arranging for large ensembles. Four years ago he added vibes to his musical instrument repertoire.</p>

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