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