Roger Aldridge, Maryland, USA
Born in 1946 in Kansas City, MO, I discovered jazz at an early age thanks to my mother’s collection of big band recordings. I started on alto saxophone when I was 9 and developed an interest in composition in my early teens. This led me to study composition & arranging at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.
At Berklee, I studied jazz composition with Herb Pomeroy and Charlie Mariano, classical composition with William Maloof and John Bavicchi, and woodwinds with Joe Viola. Afterwards, I studied composition with Dr. Robert Wykes, Dr. Stephanie Owen, and Dr. Champ Tyrone. I received a B.A. degree in composition from McKendree University and a M.A. degree in composition from New Mexico Highlands University. As a graduate assistant at Highlands, I directed the university’s jazz ensemble.
After working as a composer-arranger, music director, professional musician, and educator, I found that I needed to have a different way to support my family. I made a career change to become an analyst and worked at Southwestern Bell, Bell Atlantic, Fannie Mae, and DecisionPath Consulting for what became a 34-year career. Due to a busy work and family schedule, I was away from music for 12 years.
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As my concepts evolved jazz and roots music along with tango, blues, contemporary classical, and other kinds of music became intertwined in unusual ways in my writing. A variety of styles and forms emerged along with expanded harmonic color, a quirky humor in much of my work, and a fluid, musically expressive approach to time. It was increasingly difficult for one to define my music by genre.
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While I have been composing for many years, I did not have a good way for others to hear my music for much of that time. I prefer to focus on composition and have other musicians perform it. In 2010 I began to use various internet resources as a way for more people to hear and discover my work. Positive responses have been gratifying. My music now has friends in many countries around the world.
If you’re a performer in any idiom, please consider joining the Climate Message Video Festival, an online initiative bringing together musicians from all over the world to increase awareness of climate change.