The Rodger Fox Big Band’s latest recording, Reimagined! is being released on Monday, 4 April. Featuring the music of Sir Dave Dobbyn, the eleven tracks include the much-loved anthems Bliss, Be Mine Tonight, Magic (What She Do), Loyal, Outlook for Thursday, Don’t Drink Water, Love You Like I Should, Welcome Home, A Bridge on Fire, Walking in Light and Slice of Heaven.

With Sir Dave Dobbyn’s blessing, Rodger Fox gathered the best New Zealand and international arrangers and, together with the assembled talents of the Rodger Fox Big Band, produced a stellar recording of some of this country’s best-known songs.

Sir Dave Dobbyn said, “I'm struck by the punch and enthusiasm of the band for these fun arrangements. Great players plus Rodger Fox's big sound makes for a wild ride. I'm glad Rodger had a ball with the tunes as a source to let fly freely, Stretch that riff man. Go Rodger.”

Reimagined! features guest artists the likes of renowned drummer Gregg Bissonette, who has played with Maynard Ferguson, Santana, and the Ringo Starr All-Starr Band; Saxophonist Bob Sheppard - Steely Dan, Chick Corea and Mike Stern; Trumpeter Wayne Bergeron – Maynard Ferguson and Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band; Bass Trombonist Bill Reichenbach – Buddy Rich Big Band, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson and 1000’s of movie scores; Guitarist Josh Smith - Joe Bonamassa; Trombonist Francisco Torres – Musical Director Poncho Sanchez; and Guitarist Larry Koonse - Mel Torme and Bob Mintzer.

Rodger says Sir Dave Dobbyn is one of our music icons, a stalwart, leader and supporter of the diverse New Zealand music scene.

“His music is evocative, not just of New Zealand's beautiful landscape but also of the national spirit and he’s a timeless social rebel, as applicable today as he was when he first burst onto the scene in the late seventies.

“The flowing lyrical nature of his music lends itself to being ‘reimagined’ in a jazz idiom. Jazz is fast and fluid, moody and introspective, sophisticated and, at the same time, accessible, adding a new dimension to Sir Dave Dobbyn’s music.”

Reimagined! will also provide the foundation for the newly established jazz competition for schools, the Young Jazz Band-it, made possible and supported by Youthtown. Four arrangements and sound files from Reimagined! will be sent to each participating school’s band directors. Participating bands will then upload a video recording of their band's performance of one of the Essential NZ arrangements to the Young Jazz Band-it link for evaluation. The final date for schools entering this year’s Essential NZ Jazz Band Competition is Friday, 17 June 2022.

Reimagined! is available as a CD or Digital Album, see rodgerfoxbigband.com/shop/CD

Rodger Fox says, “I dig the generous input from all the arrangers, musicians, guest artists and Youthtown for supporting this unique project. Such a cool project to be involved with.”

Ends

For further information, please contact:

REIMAGINED! the Rodger Fox Big Band plays Sir Dave Dobbyn

Tracks

1. BLISS – Composed Sir Dave Dobbyn / Ian Morris

NATIVE TONGUE MUSIC PUBLISHING AMCOS / MORRIS IAN GORDON AMCOS CA

Arranged:            Thomas Faure

Featuring:         Gregg Bissonette, Drums; James Guilford, Trumpet; & Bryn van Vliet, Alto Saxophone

2. LOVE YOU LIKE I SHOULD – Composed Sir Dave Dobbyn

NATIVE TONGUE MUSIC PUBLISHING AMCOS

Arranged:            Vaughn Roberts

Featuring:            Josh Smith, Guitar; & Nicholas Baucke-Maunsell, Alto melody

3. BE MINE TONIGHT – Composed Sir Dave Dobbyn / Ian Morris

NATIVE TONGUE MUSIC PUBLISHING AMCOS / MORRIS IAN GORDON AMCOS CA

Arranged:            Reggie Watkins

Featuring:            Anita Schwabe, Piano; Bryn van Vliet, Alto Saxophone; & James Guilford, Trumpet

4. A BRIDGE ON FIRE – Composed Sir Dave Dobbyn

NATIVE TONGUE MUSIC PUBLISHING AMCOS

Arranged:            Torsten Maass

Featuring:            Bill Reichenbach, Bass Trombone; Bryn van Vliet, Alto Saxophone; & Wayne Bergeron, Lead Trumpet

5. MAGIC (WHAT SHE DO) – Composed Sir Dave Dobbyn / Warren / Guy / Kinney

NATIVE TONGUE MUSIC PUBLISHING AMCOS / MORRIS IAN GORDON AMCOS CA

Arranged:            Francisco Torres

Featuring:            Rodger Fox, Trombone; & Oscar Lavën, Tenor Saxophone

6. LOYAL - Composed Sir Dave Dobbyn

NATIVE TONGUE MUSIC PUBLISHING AMCOS

Arranged:            Bryn van Vliet

Featuring:            Jack Harre, Trumpet; & Kaito Walley, Trombone

7. WALKING IN LIGHT – Composed Sir Dave Dobbyn / Ian Morris

NATIVE TONGUE MUSIC PUBLISHING AMCOS / MORRIS IAN GORDON AMCOS CA

Arranged:            Alan Baylock
Featuring:            Rodger Fox, Trombone; & Wayne Bergeron, Lead Trumpet

8. JUST ADD WATER – Composed Sir Dave Dobbyn

NATIVE TONGUE MUSIC PUBLISHING AMCOS

Arranged:          Daniel Hayles

Featuring:         Gregg Bissonette, Drums; Frank Talbot, Baritone Saxophone; & Damian Forlong, Trombone

9. WELCOME HOME – Composed Sir Dave Dobbyn

NATIVE TONGUE MUSIC PUBLISHING AMCOS

Arranged:          Lauren Ellis

Featuring:         Gregg Bissonette, Drums & Percussion; Francisco Torres, Trombone; & Larry Koonse, Guitar

10. OUTLOOK FOR THURSDAY – Composed Sir Dave Dobbyn / Warren / Kinney / Guy

MUSHROOM MUSIC PTY LTD AMCOS / EMI SONGS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD AMCOS

Arranged:          Thomas Faure

Featuring:         Gregg Bissonette, Drums; & Bob Sheppard, Tenor Saxophone

11. SLICE OF HEAVEN – Composed Sir Dave Dobbyn

NATIVE TONGUE MUSIC PUBLISHING AMCOS

Arranged:          Callum Au

Featuring:         Oscar Lavën, Tenor Saxophone; & Deane Hunter, Guitar

The Rodger Fox Big Band

Rodger Fox – Musical Director/Trombone

Special Guests:

Gregg Bissonette, Drums

Wayne Bergeron, Trumpet

Larry Koonse,    Guitar

Bill Reichenbach, Bass Trombone

Josh Smith, Guitar

Bob Sheppard, Saxophone

Francisco Torres, Trombone

Saxophones:

Bryn van Vliet, Alto / Flute

Nicholas Baucke-Maunsell, Alto / Flute

Oscar Lavën, Tenor 

Dylan Holmes, Tenor, Tracks: 1,2,8,9 &10

Louisa Williamson, Tenor, Tracks: 3,4,5,6,7 &11

Frank Talbot, Baritone

Trumpets:

Jack Harre, Lead, Tracks: 1,2,3,5,6,8,9,10&11

Cameron Robertson

James Guilford

Chris Selley

Trombones:

Chris Fox, Lead

Kaito Walley

Damian Forlong

Kurt Gibson

Keyboard:
Anita Schwabe

Guitar:
Deane Hunter    Tracks: 1,3,4,5,6,8,9,10&11

BASS:
Rory Macartney

Drums:

Lance Philip       Tracks: 2,3,4,5,6,7&11

Credits:

Recorded at New Zealand School of Music, Wellington, New Zealand

Recording engineer:       Richard Caigou

Mixed at Tritone Studios, Los Angeles

Mixing and mastering engineer:  Talley Sherwood

Gregg Bissonette:   Drums recorded by Frank Rosato at Woodcliff Studio, Los Angeles, California