Rodger Fox Celebrates 40 Years of Album Recordings

Rodger Fox Celebrates 40 Years of Album Recordings

Big band leader and supremo trombonist Rodger Fox is celebrating 40 years of album recordings from 1978 to the present day with a Rodger Fox 40th Anniversary CD.

The CD includes a cross section of material featuring popular songs from previous albums along with some new tracks being released on CD for the first time.

“It’s a retrospective look at the history of the jazz orchestra and shows its development over the last 40 years,” says Rodger.

The CD marks their 37th album – a first for any New Zealand band.

“This shows the enduring ability of the jazz orchestra, which has worked with hundreds of national and international artists at the top of their game,” says Rodger.

“I have so many fond memories of working with them over the years.”

Flash back to 1980 and Rodger recalls recording the Belle track on the “New York Tape” album – a track also featured on the 40th Anniversary CD – in New York’s famous Vanguard Studios.

“We were the first New Zealand band ever to record there and we arrived in the middle of a heat wave,” he says.

“People were literally dying from heat and on the day we were recording, the studio’s air conditioning shut down. It was so hot that the band ended up recording in their under garments!”

The Rodger Fox 40th Anniversary CD is being released in conjunction with the band’s 40th anniversary tour, travelling throughout the North Island from 4 – 8 September. Copies of the CD will be available to purchase at the concert venues.

The tour features three headlines acts from the USA: pre-eminent jazz and rock guitarist Mike Stern; the world’s number one jazz organist, Joey Defrancesco; and one-of-a-kind vocalist Brenda Boykin who is known to captivate audiences from the moment she steps on stage.

“World class saxophonist Bob Sheppard and trumpeter Jon Papenbrook have also just been added to the bill,” says Rodger.

Bob Sheppard is currently a member of The Peter Erskine Trio and, having also toured with Chick Corea's ‘Origin’ for two years, is featured on their Grammy nominated CD, Change. Jon Papenbrook has played the trumpet for a range of leading artists and bands including Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Frank Sinatra, Rod Stewart, Prince and Liza Minnelli.

For more information about the Rodger Fox Big Band 40th anniversary tour, including dates and venues, please visit www.rfwjo.com

Please see the attached appendix for the Rodger Fox 40th Anniversary CD track listing.

ENDS

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