The Rodger Fox Big Band 30th Anniversary Tour    Sunday 18th of April 2004

Featuring Special Guests from the USA

MICHAEL BRECKER - Saxophone
DIANE SCHUUR - Vocals
BILL CUNLIFFE - Piano
JON PAPENBROOK - Trumpet

2004 will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the Rodger Fox Big Band. Foundation members Rodger Fox and Alan Nelson's original vision was to create opportunities for and encourage the musical growth of, a group of enthusiastic and (mainly) young musicians in a big band/jazz-rock setting.

This vision has been outstandingly realised over the years through the inspired and dedicated musical direction of Rodger Fox (ONZM). Rodger's philosophy of blending a core of more experienced players with emerging young musicians, remains as relevant today as thirty years ago.
The band continues to inspire and provide opportunities for developing musicians whilst taking the very best standards of performance and interpretation of the big band genre and presenting that music to the nation and beyond.

The 2004 tour is designed to mark the band's longevity and celebrate its artistic contribution to the New Zealand arts scene. The tours and their attendant activities, set out to achieve the following objectives:

1. Showcase original writing, arranging and performance for big band, from the best New Zealand and international composers.

2. Provide new challenges and learning experiences to the band through the presence of top international guest musicians on the national tour.

3. Present a musical programme of international standard to as broad a New Zealand audience as possible.

4. Produce three jazz workshops led by international musicians and available to all New Zealand musicians.
Repertoire:

“Aotearoa Suite”, commissioned by the Rodger Fox Big Band for the 30th Anniversary Tours and written and arranged by Grammy nominee American composer/arranger/pianist Bill Cunliffe.
Other material will be drawn from the Rodger Fox Big Bands latest CD release.

National Concert Performances and Tour:

The national tour will take place between May 27 – June 05, 2004 and will visit Auckland , Hamilton , Napier, Tauranga, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch .

Four top American jazz musicians have been contracted to appear with the band and include:

Michael Brecker, ”acclaimed as the world's greatest living Jazz saxophonist”

Diane Schuur, “Grammy award winning vocalist”

Bill Cunliffe, “Grammy nominated arranger/ pianist”.

Jon Papenbrook, “Lead trumpeter extraordinaire”.

The presence of these musicians will be a major highlight of the tour, and will provide a stimulating learning environment for the band and other New Zealand musicians.

Musicians Workshops:
As has been the desire of the Rodger Fox Big Band with all its promotional tours. The educational value of any tour is high in the bands thoughts. The 2004 national tour will include workshops by Michael Brecker, Bill Cunliffe, Jon Papenbrook along with members of the Rodger Fox Big Band. The workshops will be open to all musicians, in Auckland , Wellington and Palmerston North, in conjunction with the tour.
These workshops will be run under the auspices of Massey University Continuing Education Programme.

CD Recording:
The celebrate this historic event, Ode Records, the band's original recording label are planning the release of a double CD in 2004 featuring the live recording made at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1980 and new material.

Tour Itinerary:
May 27: Auckland Town Hall
May 28: Tauranga
May 29: New Plymouth TSB Showplace
May 30: Hamilton Founders Theatre
June 02: Christchurch James Hay Theatre
June 03: Wellington St.James Theatre
June 04: Napier Municipal Theatre
June 05: Palmerston North Regent Theatre.

Book at Ticketek for all concerts.

For further information please contact:
Brian Richards.
Tour Management Company
PO Box 100277 NSMC
Auckland
09-479 2217
021-293 9724
tourmanagement@xtra.co.nz

P.S. Don't forget that Kevin is performing with The Manawatu Jazz Club Big Band, which is featuring Jon Papenbrook at The Manawatu Jazz Festival. Here is the date

The Regent Theatre
Palmerston North
8 pm. Sunday June 6th, 2004.
Featuring USA trumpeter Jon Papenbrok (ex Woody Herman Big Band, Tower of Power, and many others).
Book at Ticketek.