Gary SteelGARY STEEL asks big band maestro Rodger Fox some questions about his album/tour collaboration with conscious hip-hopper King Kapisi.
Gary Steel – You’re celebrating 50 years of the Rodger Fox Big Band. When you formed it in the first place, did you have a long-term plan and were there the kind of support mechanisms that exist now?
Rodger Fox – When I formed the big band I was lucky enough to be playing with one of New Zealand’s top bands, the great Quincy Conserve. Through that I think I saw there was a place for such a band as I tended to push a more commercial vibe through the repertoire the band played – taking the lead from bands like Maynard Ferguson (‘Theme from Rocky’), Woody Herman (who played a great version of Carole King’s material). This made the big band sound accessible to the general music-going public. Not that I through 50 years ahead, but I have always looked forward NOT back.
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Gary – Over the years, what have you found to be the common reaction when people hear the Big Band for the first time in the flesh? And has this changed as kids listen less and less to live music and more to facsimiles of music through tiny Bluetooth speakers?
Rodger – The most common reaction is wonderment through the power of a full in-the-moment big band. The good thing is in the early days we took again the lead from the American bands.
Gary – Can you remember what inspired you to form the Big Band in the first place?
Rodger – Buying the Woody Herman Live 1963 recording at Lamphouse in Wellington and not really knowing what it was. Man! Was I surprised. Ground-breaking moment in my musical life.
Gary – It’s an incredible history with some star-studded and fascinating projects as well as plenty of “giving back” with your educational activities. Can you think of any clear personal highlights or most enjoyable moments over the 50-year period?
Rodger – Most memorable was performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1980, and touring the great Michael Brecker in 2004 for eight concerts with the big band. It took me nine years of trying to put that one together.
Gary – If someone said “I want to hear a good example of what the Rodger Fox Big Band sounds like”, what would your Spotify recommendation be?
Rodger – Full CDs would be Rodger Fox Big Band Plays New Zealand, the Hone Tuwhare CD and Sir Dave Dobbyn Reimagined.
Gary – Moving to the present, how did the King Kapisi project come about? Were you aware of his work? Was he aware of yours?
Rodger – Yes, I was aware of his work along with that of Che Fu. With King Kapisi I liked how he included jazz players within his band. Also I met through our work with a great organisation called Youthtown. Youthtown has been supporting my educational project Jazz On The Road, the Young Jazz Band competition which is the jazz version of the Rock Quest.
Gary – King Kapisi is known for his “conscious” lyrics, which take a refreshingly socially responsible and sometimes political approach in contrast to the kind of hip-hop that endlessly celebrates big booties and bling (or whatever). Was this a point of interest for you?
Rodger – I did like that he wasn’t really aligned to the big booty & bling vibe which for me takes it away from the music.
Gary – What made you think that a big band/hip-hop collaboration could work artistically, and are there any precedents that you were able to draw on?
Rodger – Hip-hop from the very beginning always seemed to draw from jazz, jazz-fusion and R&B grooves with a lot of tracks having jazz vibed samples. Free style rap for me was like jazz improvisation so it just went hand in hand.
Gary – Where was the Brotherman project recorded, what label will it be released on, and on what formats will it be released? Where and when will people be able to find it?
Rodger – The Brotherman Project was recorded by Richard Caigou the audio tech at the New Zealand School of Music at Victoria University of Wellington. The space works well for the big band and Richard is really into it. The project is being mixed in Los Angeles by Grammy Award winning engineer Talley Shirley.
Gary – Are there technical challenges involved in combining Big Band charts and hip-hop in a live context?
Rodger – Not for me, it’s all a “live” music experience – musicianship/vibe and a love of the music.
Gary – Are you looking at touring the project further North later in the year?
Rodger – First concert is in Palmerston North on September 03, then Queenstown Oct 19, Invercargill Oct 20, Oamaru Oct 21, Christchurch Oct 22 and the big one for October is the Wellington Jazz Festival performance at the Michael Fowler Centre on Friday, Oct 27. We are looking for dates to bring the show into Hamilton and Auckland in late November… just trying to find a suitable venue.
