Search - Jazz Rosco :: Rosco's Place

Off the cuff kicking it live at Rosco's

A. C. Hernandez | California | 09/27/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A Hammond B-3 organ can all at once sound like a carnival, a big band, a horn section, a small jazz combo, a funk group, a percussion section, a flute and/or countless other things. At Rosco's Place, Roger Smith made it sing off the cuff during a two day session captured live.



On the B-3, nine drawbars represent the nine most important harmonics', going in order of left to right, the sub-octive, the fifth, the unison or fundamental octave, the 8th, the 12th, the 15th, the 17th, the 19th, and the 22nd.

All of these except the 17th are either roots or fifths. The 17th is a third.



There are literally millions of tone qualities and endless shades of dynamic levels available on the Hammond organ. Roger Smith knows the right ones to play when he is weaving an aural tapestry telling a story all about how it went down at Roscoes.



There was drama when Pablo Picasso unveiled his "Woman in a chair" painting because it was a series of geometric angles, cubes, earth tone colors, unrelated parts, the woman disengaged. When asked to explain Picasso said, "The painting is about how she feels sitting in the chair"...



Smith and his compatriots on the Rosco CD, takes us to Roscos, tell us stories around the table, changing the climate colors and mood like an automatic transmission, a place in space and time, where words are ineffective.



A virtual performance art piece, music was invented and laid out on the fly, this the first of five CD's invites intimates, to an in your face studio session, laying it down the old school, Robert Johnson styled, one take way,... "Look Ma no overdubs" with seven of the baddest cats around who can play if you let them, and let them he did.



On the project Smith is flanked by stellar funk percussionist supreme drummer David Garibaldi, master of the smooth guitar Ray Obiedo. Journeymen, Mick Valentino tag teams Obliedo on guitar, Steve Self holds down the chair for Garibaldi, while bass guitarists Mike McKinnon and Mike Kirkhouse nails down the bottom.



One time Miles Davis told Billy Cobham, "Whatever you play, don't ever play it straight". Smith quotes heavily from the book of Miles, Dave Brubeck, Bill Evens, Booker T. with a wink and a nod out to Isaac Hayes.



With titles such as "Good Question", "Ray-O's Bounce", "All about you", "Preface to Insanity", "Five Alive", "Sloppy Joe's", "Cape Town Jump", "Armadillo Race". The Jazz joint Juke adventure no doubt chronicles the life of working musicians pounding the pavement and working the road.



Appearing Tonight Jazz Rosco, buy the CD and you will be in the house, and taking the ride, and adventure in musicianship you won't soon forget.



Al Carlos Hernandez- National Columnist"

Read & hear more about "Rosco's Place" @ jazzrosco.com

John 'Deacon Blue' | Oakland, USA | 10/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Roger Smith is well known for his award-winning smooth jazz solo efforts, but if you've never seen him live you might not know what a true Master of the Art of B-3 Jazz Organ he is. From his lightening-fast riffs & gritty comping, to the ground-shaking bass pedals, he does it all. Anyone who's studied the greats will recognize Roger's style; but he doesn't mimic anyone else's, he OWNS it. The other featured soloists on this project are guitarists Ray Obiedo and Mick Valentino. Like Roger, their tonal palette & expressive range convey all the moods of the instrument; like the entire ensemble, they complement at all times. Drummers David Garibaldi and Steve Self, and bassists Mike McKinnon & Mike Kirkhouse establish the foundation.



To go on analyzing the musical content would take many pages, and betray the true spirit of the venture. Recorded in a landmark 2-day session, this music spans the range from old school swing & bebop through R&B, modern jazz, fusion, funk, and the newest rage - jam bands! What's old is remade newer, braver than ever. It soars. Thanks & congratulations to Roger & his gifted friends, this is the freshest new breath into the world of Jazz in a long time. Enjoy it, and watch for the next installment..."