The Rodger Fox Big Band - On Stage with the Best of the Best

The Rodger Fox Big Band - On Stage with the Best of the Best

The 60th Monterey Jazz Festival is rolling out the welcome mat for the Rodger Fox Big Band.

The festival is celebrating six decades of world class jazz on September 16 and 17, 2017, and has invited back New Zealand’s pre-eminent big band that last played there earlier this century.

In inviting Rodger Fox and his band, Executive Director, Colleen Bailey, says jazz is an international language and the Monterey Jazz Festival has a long tradition of presenting jazz from across the world.

“Our relationship dates back to the 1990s when we enjoyed a wonderful tour of New Zealand,” she says. “Since then your big band has travelled to Monterey several times to perform at the festival.”

Though miles away we share much in common including our mutual efforts to nurture the next generation of jazz artists and enthusiasts through jazz education she comments.

Rodger Fox says to play on the same stage with the best of the best is an incredible experience. “To be amongst so many stellar artists, lifts our performance and gives us the opportunity to share ideas and music with these great musicians,” he says.

“For the majority of the band, playing at Monterey is new. Only Erna Ferry, myself and brother, Chris Fox on trombone, have been there before.”

On the way to performing at Monterey, the Rodger Fox Big Band will give two concerts in Los Angeles and San Francisco and afterwards return to LA to record at the iconic United Studios.

“We’ll record 10 tracks from the material we’re playing on tour which will comprise our CD concert tour once we return,” Rodger says.

However firstly the band has to meet the cost of travelling. From an original target of $128,000, it has less than $15,000 to find. Rodger is hoping a fundraising concert in Palmerston North on August 20 which features Peddler vocalist, Roy Phillips and two legendary rockers, Larry Morris and Andy Anderson, and two gigs in Wellington at The Grand will raise the amount.

With the band registered as a fully charitable trust, Rodger is also seeking donations from groups and individuals who can help him meet the financial target.

CONTACT

Rodger Fox - 021-143-3526 or rdfox@ihug.co.nz

ENDS

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