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RJ Spangler

Drummer RJ Spangler has been on the Detroit music seen for many years, in fact he earned his first Motor City Music Award in 1982 with a band he co-founded called the Sun Messengers. After 17 years as a Messenger, RJ went on to running the band for Detroit blues master Johnnie Bassett. With Johnnie RJ made his way across America and Europe many times.

RJ has also played with Martha & the Van Dellas, The Drifters, Earl King, Wanda Rouzan, James "Thunderbird" Davis, Big Jay McNeely, Larry McCray, Francine Reed, Tad Robinson, Shawn Pittman, Sir Mack Rice/the Falcons with Eddie Floyd, Johnny Adams, Eddie Bo, Andre Williams, Nathaniel Mayer, Robert Penn, Eddie & Jimmy Burns, Pinetop Perkins, Ron Levy, Shirley King, James Montgomery, Catfish Hodge, Harmonica Shah, Mr. Bo, Willie D. Warren, Michael Ray & the Cosmic Krewe, Thornetta Davis, Jos'lyn B, The Griswalds as well as James Carter, Bill Heid, Leon Thomas, Marcus Belgrave in addition to studies with the late great Roy Brooks.

Today he is a WC Handy award nominated drummer, a record producer and manager/drummer for Alberta Adams, Joe Weaver, the Motor City R&B Pioneers and the Odessa Harris Group. RJ is on over 30 nationally available CDs.

RJ's latest projest is an organ jazz group called the RJ Spangler Trio that features Keith Kaminski on sax and Duncan McMillan on organ. Frequent guests at their regular Tuesday night gig at the Buzz Bar in downtown Detroit include Bluesman Johnnie Bassett, trumpet great Dwight Adams and others. RJ is also forming a tentette with trumpeter James O'Donnell, playing the music of Duke Ellington to Sun Ra.

Awards

Nominee - Best Drummer - WC Handy Blues Awards (Memphis) (2001)

WDET's 300 most important persons in Detroit music (2001)

Best Locally Produced CD (Sun Sounds Orchestra) - Metro Times Music Awards (1991)

Tags

32
Album Review

Planet D Nonet: Blues to Be There

Read "Blues to Be There" reviewed by Jack Bowers


The subtitle of Blues to be There, the Detroit-based Planet D Nonet's latest album (recorded in June and July 2022), is “A Salute to Duke Ellington." As with almost any bow to the Duke, it encompasses a healthy measure of Billy Strayhorn as well. Ellington wrote or co-wrote thirteen of the album's persuasive numbers, Strayhorn five including the classics “Take the 'A' Train" and “U.M.M.G." As for Ellington, he is represented almost exclusively by lesser-known compositions, most ...

8
Album Review

The Paxton / Spangler Septet: Ugqozi

Read "Ugqozi" reviewed by Chris May


Ugqozi is a celebration of modern, urban African music, especially that from South Africa, with which co-leaders trombonist John “Tbone" Paxton and percussionist RJ Spangler have been in love for decades. It is also an affirmation of the vibrant Detroit scene of which the multi-generational Paxton / Spangler Septet is a part. Actually, the band is not a septet. Depending on whether one goes by the sleeve credits or the press release, it is either an octet ...

4
Album Review

RJ Spangler Trio: This Is What We Do

Read "This Is What We Do" reviewed by Steve Bryant


Detroit has always been a home for a multitude of jazz traditions. From big band to swing, from hard bop to the avant-garde, any jazz style can be heard in a given week. The city has especially embraced the organ trio, that staple of neighborhood joints found throughout the urban landscape. Veteran drummer and bandleader RJ Spangler has made that ubiquitous instrument his bread and butter for quite a while. Spangler (who, incidentally, is the nephew of the legendary San ...

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Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Blues to Be There

Eastlawn Records
2023

buy

Ugqozi

Eastlawn Records
2022

buy

This Is What We Do

Eastlawn Records
2012

buy

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