An American jazz musician, vocalist, pianist, songwriter, educator,
and producer, Teri lives in NEW YORK City and also spends time in NEW
YORK’s Hudson Valley. She began playing piano at age 5, and played
church organ throughout her teens. When she discovered jazz in her
early 20s – and soon after made her first demo with the legendary
stride pianist, Butch Thompson – her musical path was set. One
afternoon in Minneapolis, a young Teri Roiger sat down at a piano
amidst a group of seasoned musicians, and played a burning rendition
of John Coltrane’s Giant Steps. An astounded nearby bass player
said, "Hey, you aren't supposed to be able to do that," a remark that
ignited Teri’s determination to pursue a life in jazz.
After years of “doing that,” Teri feels her latest recording is
her most personal and powerful to date. 2017 brings Teri’s fourth
release as a bandleader – GHOST OF YESTERDAY: Shades of Lady Day --
a heartfelt tribute to Billie Holiday, to coincide with Lady Day's
102nd birth year.
Noting that Ms. Holiday provided the initial spark that led to a
lifelong commitment to jazz, Teri says, “This recording brings me
full circle. I was immediately moved upon first hearing Holiday’s
recordings. I felt all kinds of emotions I didn’t know how to
express; emotions I hadn’t felt before, and it awakened something in
me that I treasure. This tribute is something I've wanted to do since
I began singing Billie Holiday’s music in my 20’s. In spite of her
challenges, Billie was able to persevere and make incredible music
that was filled not only with sorrow, but also with joy. I’m in awe
of that ability.” On this multi-dimensional project, Roiger
celebrates and honors Lady Day’s legacy by showing the many facets
of Billie – her ebullient joy, her rebellious spirit, her rich
sensuality, and the depth of her blues. In addition to recording
re-imagined versions of Billie classics, Roiger also includes some
interesting songs inspired by Billie, one of which appears here on
disc for the first time with Teri’s original lyrics, as well as the
Gil Scott-Heron classic Lady Day and John Coltrane.
Teri has performed throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe,
and has been a featured artist at the San Miguel Jazz Festival, Panama
Jazz Festival, and Bolzano Jazz Festival. The depth of her experiences
and love of jazz is apparent when she brings all of her talents to
bear in her live performances, the recording studio, and through her
moving lyrics and compositions.
Roiger’s original offerings to GHOST OF YESTERDAY are lyrics to Lady
Day penned by Roiger, along with her lyrics to the melodies of two of
Lester Young solos, which reflect her empathetic embrace of the music,
while exploring Holiday’s intriguing musical relationship with
Young. She also added lyrics to an Ella Fitzgerald solo which appear
on the track Them There Eyes. Holiday aficionados will recognize that
Roiger pays special tribute to Lady In Satin, one of Billie’s most
hauntingly heartfelt albums, with new and beautiful arrangements of
You Don’t Know What Love Is and It’s Easy To Remember.
The depth of musicianship on GHOST OF YESTERDAY is a testament to
Roiger and producer John Menegon’s sophistication as arrangers, and
to each musician’s unique contribution to shaping and propelling the
music to a world-class standard. The personnel includes some of the
most highly respected and accomplished musicians on the scene today:
John Menegon (Dewey Redman, David ‘Fathead” Newman, Joe Lovano),
Wayne Hawkins (Karrin Allyson), Steve Williams (Shirley Horn, Carmen
Lundy). special guests…the “Visitors”: Roswell Rudd (Archie
Shepp, Cecil Taylor) Jay Collins (Gregg Allman, Jacky Terrasson),
Steve Gorn (Paul Simon, Jack DeJohnette), Rebecca Coupe-Franks (Joe
Henderson, Kenny Barron), Mark Dziuba (Jim Hall, Pat Metheny), Abdou
Mboup (Joe Lovano, Michel Petrucciani).
Teri’s 2012 release, DEAR ABBEY: The Music of Abbey Lincoln,
produced by Brian Bacchus, made the Jazz Journalist Association’s
“best of” vocal releases list for 2012, and was featured as one of
the five best tribute releases in NYC Jazz Record’s January 2013
issue. Teri’s acclaimed composition STILL LIFE, title track of her
second release (with Frank Kimbrough, Gil Goldstein, Matt Wilson, and
John Menegon) won third prize in the jazz category of the
International Songwriting Competition. On her debut CD, MISTERIOSO,
Teri and her husband, John Menegon, collaborated to arrange and
produce a collection of tunes featuring jazz legends Kenny Burrell and
Jack DeJohnette. On that album, Teri’s original lyrics to Monk’s
Misterioso (renamed Listen To Your Soul) were recorded with the
blessing of the Thelonious Monk family.
Since 1998, Roiger has shared her knowledge and inspiration with her
students in the SUNY New Paltz Jazz Program (New Paltz, NY), where she
teaches Jazz Voice, History of Jazz, and Vocal Jazz Ensembles. Over a
seven-year period, she also developed and presented four in-depth
courses at Williams College (Williamstown, MA): The Music of Billy
Strayhorn, The Music of Thelonious Monk, A Survey of Brazilian Music,
and an extensive Vocal Jazz Ensemble Performance course.
Teri and John also composed and scored the music for the documentary
film BEYOND ICONIC (2011) about the renowned photographer Dennis
Stock. Directed by Hanna Sawka, this acclaimed film premiered at
festivals all over the world, and was one of the top ten finalists at
the Sao Paulo Film Festival. In 2011 Roiger and Menegon formed a new
production company called JAZZSTOCK, which has been very successful in
presenting world-renowned jazz artists in Woodstock and throughout the
Hudson Valley and continues to this day.
Praise for Roiger’s music and performances:
Stanley Crouch at DIZZY’s: Her notes, her swing, her sound, and the
all-encompassing soulfulness of Teri giving meaning to the music and
the moment said all there is to say. She had all of the essence that
anyone wants to hear anytime from a true jazz singer…She is made for
those who still understand the meaning of the term the real thing.
Vic Garbarini, Playboy Magazine: A voice like the finest bittersweet
chocolate full of rich, dark, contradicting flavors that miraculously
blend to create one of the most original vocal instruments in decades!
JAZZTIMES: Powerfully moving…sagacious warmth…impressively deep…
ALL ABOUT JAZZ: Roiger’s warm contralto, like aged, fine whiskey, is
smooth but heady.
Mark Myers, JazzWax.com: A vocalist who wraps (Abbey) Lincoln’s
complex songs around her finger…
music
73
Views
30/05/2020 Last update