American Music Center

InfoCompositions

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4205 Gelding Lane

Olney, MD

20832

A wide range of influences are found in Roger's work including Jazz, New Music, Latin, Blues, Tango, and Traditional (Roots) Music -- often combined in a spirit of fun and adventure. As he describes: "I discovered jazz when I was 8. It was love at first note. From that moment, music has been a life-long journey of continuing discovery. I have a long list of heroes spread across a wide range of genres. When I first heard Appalachian fiddle players in West Virginia I was deeply impressed with their drive, swing, and feeling. It was easy for me to envision this music as being an early branch of the jazz family tree. It was life changing...like hearing Gil Evans or Bela Bartok or John Coltrane for the first time. For me, looking back to roots music and looking forward to new music are equally creative and exciting." Jazz composition studies, Berklee College of Music 1964-68. BA Music Composition, McKendree University 1973. MA Music Composition, New Mexico Highlands University 1974. Composition teachers include Herb Pomeroy, William Maloof, John Bavicchi, Robert Wykes, Stephanie Owen, and Champ Tyrone. Listed in International Who's Who in Music. Performance instruments: clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, alto flute, and saxophones. All of my music at the American Music Center is intended to be USED and is available without charge. Click on the Compositions tab and scroll down the list of selected scores and original tunes. If you find something that you like, please work with it and perform it. Of course, give credit to the composer....and tell others about it. Hearing from musicians who discovered my music and are performing it is appreciated.