David Rogers

CDs: Album Details

"The World Is Not Your Home" David Rogers Sextet (Jumbie Records)

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Description:

Hard driving jazz runs throughout this album, laced with Cuban montuno rhythms here, a Medieval cantus firmus chorale there, an African folk song, the chatter of talking drums, and the guest appearance of an African xylophone.

At the heart of every piece is David Rogers’s expressive saxophone and the propulsive jazz rhythm section of Gerald Cleaver (drum set), Craig Taborn (piano), and Marion Hayden (acoustic bass). Mark Stone (melodic percussion) and Derek Bermel (clarinet) expand the colors and stylistic range to create a truly global vision of modern jazz.


Reviews:

“Top flight musicians… a fusion masterpiece.” — AllAboutJazz

“The World Is Not Your Home is an astonishing piece of work. Perhaps the world has now caught up with David Rogers.” — Brian Morton, co-author, Penguin Guide to Jazz

"A truly great recording, one that defines what jazz is today." — Maurice Hogue, CKUW-FM

“Not only a powerful jazz statement, but a musical statement, one of the best to come out this year.” — Music for America

"Tour de force... Rogers' saxophone work and overall outlook bring to mind no less than John Coltrane during the latter's period of experimenting with Indian music tonalities… like the master, Rogers is a relentless seeker with an eye beyond borders. Working with five superb musicians… [they] explore freely and wildly, coalescing single-mindedly at that place where it all comes together to form something fresh and exciting. Each track here is a world unto its own, precisely, one would imagine, what Rogers had in mind."
—AllMusicGuide

"Most up-and-coming tenor saxophonists show off what they have learned from Coltrane, Rollins, Lovano, Getz and other past masters. But Rogers dishes out tenor playing here that cuts through all the tired jazz clichés -- it is almost as if his music sprang up fully formed outside the jazz tradition, without any telltale licks to reveal his sources. Of course, Rogers's long stint in Ghana may have helped open his ears to sounds outside the bop-to-free coordinates that direct most of his peers. His composition "Oboo Ketua Nyom" is inspired by the music of the Dagara and Lobi peoples, and is supported by a drummer and two gyil (pronounced JEE-lee) players. The gyil is a Dagara xylophone, and Rogers builds his solos primarily from pentatonic lines that reflect the scale of this instrument. He moves through slow, fast and medium sections, but in a holistic way that few jazz works achieve. This is world fusion jazz at its finest."
—Ted Gioia, Jazz.com

"5 stars. Rogers is someone who can play, and while it's easy to compare him to every other saxophonist, it's best to just hear him play… [He] enjoys incorporating sounds from around the world, so at any moment he may bring in the tribal sounds of Africa, or percussion sounds that can be heard in South America, or in "La Isla De Reyes" it's a lengthy vacation to Cuba with various solos coming in and out at a pace that may leave people breathless. Rogers is the kind of saxophonist that someone like the late Michael Brecker would be proud of, someone willing to test their limits by playing without them. This is not only a powerful jazz statement, but a musical statement, one of the best to come out this year."
—Music for America

"Drawing heavily from the melodic and rhythmic traditions of Ghana and Cuba... 'Oboo Ketua Nyom' steals the show, setting Rogers against a pair of gyile xylophones for an ecstatic, 11-minute celebration of life."
—JazzTimes

"Jazz is global. For decades we have seen this art form spread from America around the world. The original source was Africa and the colorful music of composer/ saxophonist David Rogers reflects African and other world influences… Rogers' six originals will impress you with his ability to express emotion and ideas by utilizing all the possibilities of the tenor sax, the importance of his rhythm section (and other rhythm players) and the interesting way in which his compositions unfold… The World Is Not Your Home is an engaging release from an innovative musician. I look forward to hearing more as David Rogers and his new quintet explore the relationship of jazz and world music."
—JazzReview

"The World Is Not Your Home is one of a long line of performances that meld the irresistible primal rhythms and sounds of world music with the sophistication and nuances of American jazz. But few American jazz musicians outside of Randy Weston have truly immersed themselves in songs and rhythms of Africa, the Caribbean and other far-flung places on this earth like David Rogers… Listeners of jazz should welcome The World Is Not Your Home seeing the light of day."
—Blog Critics Magazine

"A decade ago, tenor saxophonist David Rogers’ awareness of African music and jazz led him to compose pieces that were a synthesis of these interests and influences. Bringing together a sextet of Detroit’s finest young jazz musicians he recorded these pieces and the session remained unreleased. Ten years can be a long time in the fickle world of jazz/world fusion but The World Is Not Your Home stands up well to this test. This is in large part due to the strength of these compositions and the presence of top flight musicians. Drummer Gerald Cleaver and pianist Craig Taborn are heard here before their arrival and integration into the NYC jazz landscape as is bassist Marion Hayden who has played with violinist Regina Carter in the all-female ensemble Straight Ahead. Along with Rogers’ communicative tenor, Mark Stone’s vibes and assortment of African percussion link the sounds of both gatherings. In addition, the suitably titled 'Mobius Trip' and title tracks, a fusion masterpiece, appear in separate guises… Derek Bermel’s clarinet mixes with tenor for captivating voicings on The World is Not Your Home."
—AllAboutJazz



Artists:

David Rogers – composer, tenor saxophone, lunna talking drum (#1)
Craig Taborn – piano
Gerald Cleaver – drum set, percussion (#6)
Marion Hayden – acoustic bass
Mark Stone – gungon (#1), gyil xylophone (#3), vibraphone (#5), lead conga (#6)
Derek Bermel – clarinet (#1, 5), lunna talking drum (#1), gyil xylophone (#3), clave (#6)