Following the recent sad passing of Young Jazz Band-it creator and leader Rodger Fox, we wish to assure that this year's competition is proceeding as planned and further details on finals will be confirmed in coming weeks. Keep Reading
A host of media outlets and music people have paid huge tribute to band leader, educator and trombonist extraordinaire Rodger Fox. Keep Reading
With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Dr Rodger Fox on Monday 27th May 2024, following a brief illness. New Zealand’s foremost jazz trombonist, big band maestro, jazz educator, arranger and producer, he has performed in concert with some of the biggest names in the business, from the jazz and entertainment world, promoted... Keep Reading
On Wednesday 8 May 2024, the New Zealand Parliament played host to a memorable evening of music and dance from the 1940s. The Speaker's Concert Series, an initiative by the Right Honourable Gerry Brownlee, invited distinguished guests to enjoy the performance of the New Zealand School of Music Big Band, led by renowned musician Rodger Fox in... Keep Reading
It’s October 2023 and final preparations are being looked at for the impending trip to USA in January 2024 with the Rodger Fox Big Band to attend the Jazz Educators Network Conference in New Orleans which the band has been invited to play at. We have just received word Creative NZ has declined our application for assistance which is... Keep Reading
An ex-pat friend of Rodger's captured the Big Band's gig at the Carlyle Room, in Washington DC, on 10 January 2024. Peter Grattan is a former TVNZ employee, now living in the USA, and his video handiwork can be seen below. The Rodger Fox Big Band is in the USA through early January, having represented New Zealand at JEN, the Jazz Educational... Keep Reading
The Rodger Fox Big Band (RFBB) and vocalist Erna Ferry turned on a storming performance at JEN, the Jazz Educational Network Conference in New Orleans, featuring high powered recent RFBB material. Rodger Fox said many world-class musicians attended the performance, including the legendary New Orleans funk drummer Stanton Moore, who he... Keep Reading
RNZ
His name is synonymous with big band jazz in New Zealand. In fact, he is Mr Jazz.
Rodger Fox plays Hone Tuwhare near top of list for Jack Bower's Best Jazz Albums Of 2023 Esteemed jazz critic Jack Bowers, of the 'All About Jazz' website, proclaimed a review of "so many splendid big-band albums along with wonderful enterprises by smaller groups". He was talking about a very long list of great jazz albums in 2023. And near... Keep Reading
ZB
The Rodger Fox Big Band has been invited to represent New Zealand at the 2024 Jazz Educational Network Conference in New Orleans early next year. However h
Recently we’ve learned that the planned RFBB trip to the JEN conference (Jazz Educators Network) is in jeopardy because there is a shortfall of funds. The trip goes on from New Orleans to Washington D.C. and Baltimore (gigs with Dennis Chambers) and New York to record. There are more than 20 people in the tour group but the funds needed is... Keep Reading
An application by the Rodger Fox Big Band (RFBB) has been turned down by Creative NZ, meaning that unless the RFBB can raise $89,000 this month, they will not be able to accept an invitation to represent New Zealand at the 2024 Jazz Educational Network (JEN) Conference in New Orleans. The Jazz Educational Network Conference is one of the.. Keep Reading
Young Jazz Band-it
Rodger Fox Big Band