About

Hailing from the remote location of Perth, West Australia, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Troy Roberts has received numerous accolades including three DownBeat SM Jazz Soloist Awards, 2 Grammy Nominations, and was semi-finalist in the 2008 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition.  Graduating with a Bachelor of Music at the young age of 19, he has performed around Europe and the US extensively with artists such as Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, Joey DeFrancesco, James Morrison, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Christian McBride, Sammy Figueroa, Billy Hart, Dave Douglas, Orrin Evans and Kurt Elling to name a few, and also completed a Masters Degree at The University of Miami.  As an educator, Roberts has presented numerous masterclasses and clinics at prestigious colleges, conservatoriums and universities around the world.

In 2012, he shared the stage in an international septet comprised of jazz giants Wayne Shorter, Richard Bona, Vinnie Colaiuta and Zakir Hussein for Herbie Hancock’s launch of International Jazz Day at The UN, NYC.  He was also part of Hancock’s 2014 International Jazz Day held in Osaka, Japan performing with jazz luminaries such as Gregory Porter, Marcus Miller, Roy Hargrove, Esperanza Spaulding and John Scofield.  As a long-time New York City resident, Troy maintains a busy performance and recording schedule around the globe with some of the greatest jazz artists of today, and is currently celebrating his fourteenth release as a leader, ‘NU-JIVE: Nations United’ (Toy Robot Music).

 

“Roberts’ sixth release as a leader, “Secret Rhymes” is confirmation that redefinition of familiarity is entirely possible, and this will long be considered a new standard for years to come. This project embodies the spirit of contemporary improvised music in its purest and most urgent state, while maintaining the characteristics of nurturing and delicacy that give it balance and scope.”

– Greg Osby

“Roberts is a boisterous and effusive player, conversant but not busy. ‘Secret Rhymes’ has a bounce to it and Roberts excels here as a leader, with an awesomely arranged album with just a touch more arch than one can legally call straight-ahead.”

– DownBeat Magazine

“Whilst it’s not common to display virtuosity, it’s even rarer to be wonderfully creative while doing so. But the rarest of all gifts is to have a unique voice; a sound that is unmistakably your own, Troy Roberts has this gift. He amply demonstrates that it’s possible to pay homage to the great tenor players of jazz and still create a fresh approach that leaves the listener always in anticipation of what he’ll come up with next.” 

– James Morrison

“While jazz is so strongly identified as swing, it is nice to see the next gen carving out their sound and ideas. Roberts, along with his well-equipped ensemble, is certainly up to the task – creating a jazz record that employs great playing and abundant ideas. Roberts, though young in age, certainly has an arsenal of abilities under his belt, and has the makings and foundation of a lasting great saxophonist. Versatile in style, with a strong grasp of yesterday and today, he is a force to be reckoned with no matter the setting. He is more than one to watch, he is one to follow closely.” 

– JazzTimes Magazine

“…Substance and style will triumph over pretentiousness and ego every time. Roberts has a resume that will certainly make one sit up and take notice having shared the stage with such luminaries as Nicholas Payton, Orrin Evans and John Clayton. Nu-Jive 5 is Roberts fifth release as a leader and is brimming with vitality and that certain pop of originality that separates the “artist” from the “musician”…” 

– Critical Jazz

 

  • Grammy Nominations for performances on Sammy Figueroa’s The Magician, Joey DeFrancesco’s Project Freedom.

 

  • Performances on Grammy Nominated albums by Orrin Evans & The Captain Black Big Band: Presence (which includes an original composition by Roberts) and The Intangible Between, The Terraza Big Band (One Day Wonder – title track is an original composition by Roberts) and Joey DeFrancesco (In The Key of The Universe – with Pharoah Sanders, Billy Hart, and heavily features Roberts on saxophones and acoustic bass).

 

  • Winner of the 2001 James Morrison Jazz Scholarship, Semifinalist in 2008 Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition, 2nd place winner in 2016 Wangaratta International Saxophone Competition.

 

  • Exclusive artist endorsement by Vandoren.

 

 

  • 2021 – The University of Miami FROST School of Music – Full time Lecturer
  • 2020 – The University of Miami FROST School of Music – Full time Lecturer
  • 2019 – West Australian Academy of Performing Arts – Artist in Residence
  • 2018 – The University of Miami FROST School of Music – Artist in Residence

University of The Arts, Philadelphia – Visiting Artist

Slippery Rock University – Artist in Residence

Berry College – Artist in Residence

New World School of The Arts – Artist in Residence

  • 2016 – The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music – jazz saxophone

The James Morrison Academy of Music – Artist in Residence

  • 2015 – The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music – jazz saxophone

The University of Arizona – Artist In Residence

Berry College – Artist In Residence

  • 2014 – The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music – jazz saxophone
  • 2012 – The University of Miami FROST School of Music – jazz saxophone,

ensemble director

  • 2011 – The University of Miami FROST School of Music – jazz saxophone,

ensemble director

  • 2010 – The University of Miami FROST School of Music – jazz saxophone

New World School of The Arts – Artist in Residence

  • 2009 – West Australian Academy of Performing Arts – jazz saxophone,

ensemble director.

The University of Miami FROST School of Music – jazz saxophone

  • 2008 – West Australian Academy of Performing Arts – jazz saxophone,

ensemble director

  • 2007 – The University of Miami FROST School of Music – jazz saxophone,

freshman ear-training, ensemble director, freshman improv.

  • 2006 – The University of Miami FROST School of Music – jazz saxophone,

freshman ear-training, ensemble director, freshman improv.

  • 2005 – West Australian Academy of Performing Arts – jazz saxophone

Wesley College – saxophone

The University of Miami FROST School of Music – jazz saxophone

  • 2004 – West Australian Academy of Performing Arts – jazz saxophone
  • 2003 – West Australian Academy of Performing Arts – jazz saxophone

 

 

Troy Roberts plays;

Vandoren products exclusively 
 
TENOR:
Silver Plated 1951 Selmer Super Balanced Action
Nickel Plated 1932 Conn Chu Berry Transitional
Vandoren V16 T7 mouthpiece, V16 3.5 reeds, M/O ligature
JL Woodwinds Custom Carbon Fiber tenor cases
 
SOPRANO:
Inderbinen Hand Hammered Raw Brass
Vandoren V16 S6 mouthpiece, V16 3 reeds, M/O ligature
Manning Custom Carbon Fiber tenor/soprano combo case
 
ALTO:
Silver Plated 1932 Conn Art Deco Transitional
Vandoren V16 A6 S+ mouthpiece, V16 3 reeds, M/O ligature
JL Woodwinds Custom Carbon Fiber alto case
 
Neck Strap: Jazzlab SAXHOLDER
 
other horns:
Yamaha YTS-21 Tenor Saxophone (click HERE to hear)
Inderbinen Hand Hammered Raw Brass Tenor Saxophone. (click HERE to hear) SOLD