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Rod McGaha

Rod McGaha is exactly what working musicians strive to be, a potent combination of virtuosity and unfettered artistic passion. But who are we to say so? Fair question. It has been said by more than a few that the good musicians know who are the good musicians; therefore -

Max Roach (jazz legend): “(Rod is) An important new and original voice.”

Clark Terry (jazz legend): “When I first heard Trees (Rod), I got that same feeling I got when I first heard Wynton . Some musicians just have that thing!”

Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band): “Rod McGaha is a one of a kind musician and has his own identity on the trumpet – an instrument that millions of people play- and that's saying something.”

Kirk Whalum (Grammy award winner): “Rod McGaha doesn't think he has the luxury of ever releasing music he doesn't feel deeply. I for one am glad that he connects us to his heart each time he connects to his mouthpiece.”

Victor Wooten (Grammy award winning bassist) “ Rod is a special talent. Whether playing trumpet, writing, or arranging, he speaks with a voice that is uniquely his own. That is why I use him on my projects.”

Whether you first heard him as the opening act for Take 6 or as one of the featured jazz soloists with Max Roach's critically-acclaimed group, or maybe even as a featured soloist playing in front of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, one of your first thoughts had to be, “This guy makes playing great look really easy.” That's because Rod has lived a musical life that was founded on consistent, hard work behind the scenes and passionate fun and pleasure on the stage. “If I didn't love playing so much, I would have quit - years ago.”

A native born Chicagoan, Rod McGaha first showed up on Chicago's jazz scene as a young prodigy, during an era when young lions were making more than just a little roar. He constantly comments on how receiving the acceptance and guidance of legendary tenor saxophonist, Von Freeman was very important to him. “When I teach in clinics, I remember how eager I was to get better and how important it was for me to be called one of Von's “horses”. When I teach kids today, I recognize that look in their eyes. I'm just as happy for them, as I was for me. I understand their excitement and their fear.”

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24
Album Review

Don Aliquo: Growth

Read "Growth" reviewed by Jack Bowers


On Growth, his eighth album as a leader, it is said that Nashville-based saxophonist Don Aliquo “pushes past his established comfort zone and into more precarious and challenging improvisational territory." While that may well be true, another truism is that the harmonic vocabulary of contemporary jazz has remained essentially unchanged for more than eight decades, and Aliquo does nothing to alter the blueprint. He simply approaches improvisation in his own way while embracing time-honored parameters. In other ...

112
Album Review

Rod McGaha: Preacherman

Read "Preacherman" reviewed by AAJ Staff


This is old. Mutes, shouts, rumbling rhythms and gospel piano. The tunes are familiar (“This Here”, “Anthropology”), and the originals seem like old friends. But this is no veteran: Rod’s first album looked to hip-hop – this goes back to early ‘Sixties soul jazz. Max Roach calls him “an important new and original voice”, which sounds funny at first. But think: when young lions talk of “tradition”, they often mean bop or Ellington. This corner of jazz past is not ...

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Clark Terry (jazz legend): “When I first heard Trees (Rod), I got that same feeling I got when I first heard Wynton . Some musicians just have that thing!”

Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band): “Rod McGaha is a one of a kind musician and has his own identity on the trumpet – an instrument that millions of people play- and that's saying something.”

Kirk Whalum (Grammy award winner): “Rod McGaha doesn't think he has the luxury of ever releasing music he doesn't feel deeply. I for one am glad that he connects us to his heart each time he connects to his mouthpiece.”

Victor Wooten (Grammy award winning bassist) “ Rod is a special talent

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Growth

Ear Up Records
2023

buy

The Black Flower...

Compass Records
2014

buy

Preacherman

Compass Records
1999

buy

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