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In addition to being a gifted Jazz trumpeter, the multi-talented Rod
McGaha is a composer, vocalist, lyricist, and producer. Rod was born and
raised in
Chicago, where his Jazz-loving father would play Miles Davis and Louis
Armstrong records
constantly, perking his son’s interest in music. By the fourth grade,
McGaha was learning both
the guitar and the trumpet, eventually gravitating to trumpet full time
and looking to such
modern-day Funk/Dance acts as Parliament Funkadelic, James Brown, and
Kool & the Gang for
inspiration.
Straight out of high school, McGaha
began his professional music career touring with Gene Chandler before
attending Northeastern University in Chicago and then DePaul University
on scholarship. During this time he became more interested in Jazz.
McGaha caught a break when fellow
trumpeter Clark Terry (DukeEllington/Count Basie) caught a performance
by the up-and-coming player and took him under his wing. McGaha went on
to land numerous gigs and toured the world as a sideman for Kenny
Rodgers, BeBe and CeCe Winans, The O’Jays, Take 6, Lou Rawls, and the
legendary Max Roach who called Rod “an important new and original
voice”.
Rod has earned impressive awards such
as The Maynard Ferguson Award from the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz
Festival, The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award for Outstanding Jazz Trumpeter,
The Oak Lawn Jazz Festival All- Star Award, and The Outstanding Jazz
Trumpet Soloist Award from the National Association of Jazz Educators.
Rod McGaha has had his own recordings
released including the Hip-Hop-ish, "The Servant" (1997), the powerful
and stirring traditional Jazz offering, "Preacherman" (1999) which was
co-produced by Delfeayo Marsalis and rose to number 12 on the Gavin Jazz
Report, the rare, "Seven" (2000) a European Import full of passion and
experimentation, and his beautifully crafted Jazz approach to Gospel
music, "The Trumpet Sounds" (2003), for which Rod has been nominated for
a DOVE award. A "live" recording made in February of 2004 may be
released in the near future.
Rod shares, "I
especially thank God for the air I breathe everyday for without it not
one note could have been played!"
Read Ron's interesting Interview in the
Weekly Wire
here!
~ Reviews ~
"Prepare to be blown away by "PREACHERMAN"! "ROD McGAHA is an
African-American improvising master of Gabriel's instrument.. on which
he produces "heavenly" sounds".
According to his former employer/mentor, ( the 78-year old drum legend
Max Roach!) Rod McGaha is, "an important new and original voice."
"McGaha's
brand of jazz is definitely not ashamed of his roots in the R&B and
gospel circuit. On "Preacherman" he's right "inside" religious songs,
show tunes & adventurous jazz & his own compositions are good too.
Delfeayo Marsalis is his co-producer. McGaha's team-mates are pianist
Lori Meecham, bassist Roger Spencer, drummer Chris Brown and Marc Harris
on organ". - The Planet
…an
excellent mainstream jazz record...a beautiful sound."
The New York Times
Preacherman
The Trumpet Sounds
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This Little Light Of Mine |
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Like The Dew |
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Can't Buy Me Love |
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We Fall Down |
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To purchase this CD's visit
here!
To purchase this CD's visit
here!
For Booking Information Contact Red Ridge
Entertainment, Inc.
1208 16th Avenue South #LL1, Nashville, TN. 37212 * Phone (615) 321-2004 *
FAX (615) 321-2074
www.RedRidgeEntertainment.com
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