Vinyl Record

Robert Glasper - In My Element

Buy Robert Glasper - In My Element on 2LP at Kilmorna, Listowel: modern jazz piano with deep grooves, big dynamics, and a system-friendly pressing.

2LP · 2023

Available from Kilmorna Collection in Listowel.

Buyer notes: 2023 2LP, currently available from the Kilmorna Collection vinyl shelf. Pay for pickup in Listowel or ship within Ireland for EUR 5.50.

Robert Glasper’s In My Element captures him at the piano with a band built for momentum: modern jazz language, a strong groove instinct, and the kind of interplay that keeps evolving over long, patient takes. It’s the sound of a player who can handle tradition without sounding museum-piece, moving from lyrical passages to hard-swinging runs and back again with total ease. Across the set, Glasper stretches tunes into open-ended journeys - tight themes that relax into improvisation, then snap back into focus. There are nods to standards and modern repertoire alike, plus moments where his wider musical world peeks through in phrasing and feel. On vinyl, the pace and dynamics make sense: drums and bass lock in, the piano sits confidently in the centre, and the room around the instruments becomes part of the story. It’s an album you can play straight through, but it also rewards dropping the needle for a single side when you want a hit of late-night, forward-looking jazz.

In My Element is a key listen for understanding how contemporary jazz absorbed hip-hop-era rhythm and still kept the improvisational heart intact. It’s virtuosic without showboating, groove-led without dumbing down, and it bridges audiences - jazz heads, beat lovers, and anyone chasing modern piano records with real swing.

This LP edition is a later reissue on 2LP, which suits the album’s extended performances and helps keep the grooves comfortable for better tracking and cleaner low-end. If you’re comparing copies, condition matters on quiet piano-led records - clean surfaces and a well-set stylus pay off. A great pick-up when you want a modern classic that’s as enjoyable on a hi-fi as it is in the background.

Warm, present piano with plenty of transient detail; bass sits deep and rounded, drums pop with crisp cymbals. Wide dynamics - turn it up and let the room bloom.

Recommended for: listeners who like modern jazz that still swings; fans of groove-forward piano trios and quartets; collectors building a contemporary jazz shelf beyond the classics; hi-fi listeners looking for dynamic, acoustic-led vinyl.

Is this a studio or live album? It plays like a focused studio date with extended, improvisation-friendly takes rather than a crowd-recorded live set. Is this suitable for someone new to Robert Glasper? Yes - it's a strong entry point if you want the jazz-first side of Glasper, with plenty of groove and modern touchstones. Why is it on 2LP? The longer track lengths benefit from being spread across four sides, which generally helps with dynamics and reduces inner-groove compromise.