R.I.P. Rodger Fox

A eulogy for New Zealand's "Dr Jazz", the great - and wonderful - Rodger Fox.

Kua hinga he totara i te wao nui a Tane - Yes, a mighty Totara has fallen.

Rodger Fox has died. He was 71. Rodger’s commitment to music, his impact, his influence, his generosity cannot be overstated. As a player, promoter, bandleader, arranger, and educator he worked tirelessly. He was almost singlehandedly responsible for shaping modern big-band music in New Zealand, the brass ensemble that carried his name, The Rodger Fox Big Band celebrated its 50th birthday last year.

Rodger Fox (CNZM) took New Zealand’s jazz music to the world. And then was sure to bring the world to New Zealand. The highlights are numerous, but must include taking his big band to the stage of the Montreux Jazz Festival, performing with legends including Randy Crawford, Bernard Purdie, Steve Gadd, Gregg Bissonette, Michael Brecker, Peter Erskine, Chris Cain, and many more.

As a tour promoter, Fox brought Bettye LaVette to New Zealand when the entire world had forgotten about her. A few years later she was back on her feet and releasing multiple award-winning and acclaimed records. He brought the fabulous Michael Brecker to New Zealand, and the blues harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite. He gave audiences the thrill of seeing Long John Baldry. The list just goes on. And on. If Rodger had only been a promoter of shows, he’d have given the country enough.

But he was a collaborator across genres, including a long-running, if incongruous set of shows and albums with the classical pianist Michael Houstoun. The result was truly spectacular, and no one could have guessed it — you could tell from Houstoun’s face alone! Most recently he toured a show and recorded an album with hip-hop artist King Kapisi. There was an album of Dave Dobbyn songs arranged for big-band, and in earlier years he worked with everyone in New Zealand music from Ray Wolfe to the Yandall Sisters, to Roy Phillips of the world-famous Peddlers.

Rodger had started on trumpet, and moved to trombone. He was accepted into a trainee scheme for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, but his first love was big band jazz. And he followed his heart. As a teenager, he joined one of New Zealand’s greatest ever bands, The Quincy Conserve. And that gave him the education he wanted.

Growing up in the 1980s, I knew Rodger Fox from the television. He was on the telethons, he was on the light entertainment programming. His band toured the country, played our school.

I loved his music when I was young. We were into big band jazz (thank you mum!) I loved Glenn Miller, and I loved Buddy Rich, and I loved so many of the things in-between, as well as the jazz-rock horns of Blood, Sweat and Tears, and I couldn’t believe there was someone in New Zealand so dedicated to preserving the lost art of the big band and incorporating the arrangements you heard in music like the early Chicago Transit Authority and Blood, Sweat & Tears.

I’d see Rodger’s shows whenever I could.

Moving to Wellington, I was lucky to go to many of the Fox Big Band gigs, and so many of the shows Rodger promoted.

I got to know him pretty well. I’d say I knew him for well over 20 years, firstly as a music retailer prepared to take the punt to stock his albums, when not many would. He hand delivered the CDs, and would stop for a chat, and sometimes take me for a coffee. We had a Sale or Return agreement that was probably not even "authorised” by my employers, but I took the punt. I thought a New Zealand music store should sell Rodger Fox CDs. And we sold enough to restock a few times.

Rodger always invited me to his shows, as a reviewer, sure. But as a music lover, a fan. He would message me with great excitement when he knew I would be thrilled about a particular artist. I remember a few years back the message simply said: “Simon, buddy, I’ve finally got Gadd!” I am pretty sure my reply was entirely in block-caps.

Flash forward a few months, and I’m in a studio at RNZ helping Jesse Mulligan to manage an interview with Steve Gadd, drummer for Paul Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Chick Corea, and so very many more. I couldn’t make the Wellington show so Rodger thoughtfully saved me tickets to attend in Palmerston North.

We nattered about music a lot. And I always loved these conversations. We even recorded one once, for my podcast. A great thrill to have this on the record. And to have him sign one of my records! Rodger also helped me secure great guests for my podcast — in particular sitting down with drum legend, Gregg Bissonette; Rodger inviting me to a rehearsal, to watch, to meet Gregg, then providing a private room for us to record a conversation.

I wrote about Rodger a lot. Reviewed a few of the albums, and as many of the gigs as I could. He was always such a wonderful sight at his shows. One side of his body constantly moving, at the music stand, his back to the audience, conducting the big band. You could hear the music through his shoulders. You could watch as he tossed it from his hair. You could vibe with him. As well as the impeccable musicians in his band too. He helped so many people. He assisted musicians in their careers, and audiences in their (further) listening.

To me, Rodger was always one of the good guys.

He was playing and thinking about music right up until the end. He was at Government House just a few weeks ago. He emailed me excitedly last month to tell me about yet another legendary drummer from America he was planning to bring to New Zealand.

Earlier this year he was in America again with the band.

“And one more time for the cats in the band”, he’d always say.

I’m thinking today of all the cats in his band. Past and present. And to all the musicians Rodger helped in some way and met and worked with along the way.

And to his closest friends and family. My thoughts to Erna Ferry. And my most sincere condolences to all that knew him, here, and around the world. It’s a bit of a silly cliche to say, but I thought Rodger would be 90 or 100 still wiggling one shoe on the stage, still dusting music off his lapels, still nodding his head in a music-enthralled fury. I really loved the guy. Just loved what he was about.

We (New Zealand) will miss him!

R.I.P. Rodger Fox