International concert coming to town

People are encouraged to get some dancing shoes and check out the John Roberts Y Pan Blanco concert Monday, Aug. 15, at 7 p.m. at the Hot Springs State Park pavilion.

Roberts began playing the piano at the age of 5 while living on an isolated ranch in Southeastern Montana. There was no TV, but there was a piano. At age 11, he picked up trombone to play in the grade school band. After graduating in 1996 from Montana State University-Billings with a BA in Music Performance, he moved to Los Angeles to earn his Master of Fine Arts in Western Orchestral Trombone Performance from California Institute of the Arts.

Roberts described his music as a blend of American Soul and Funk, mixed with African and Cuban music. He said the mix is somewhat tricky. As for those who might be a bit shy about their dancing skills, he likes to show a few moves on stage. He hopes for a good crowd, as he will often join them on the dance floor. He further added he’s spent a lot of time in the Salsa dance scene in Los Angeles.

After 17 years in L.A., he returned to his home state of Montana and is currently on staff in Montana at MSU Billings as a Jazz, music theory, low brass and World Music instructor. He also maintains a private studio, ranging from beginning to college level musicians, teaching brass skills, classical repertoire, production, jazz and commercial theory and improvisation.

The concert is an Arts in the Park and Wildcat production.