Roger Neumann
{{short description|American jazz musician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
Image:Roger-neumann_DSC09025_aarhus-jazzfestival-2016.jpg
Roger Neumann (3 January 1941 – 28 November 2018) was an American jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer, arranger, and music educator.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kuvo.org/post/vail-jazz-foundation-contributor-roger-neumann-passes-away |title=Vail Jazz Foundation contributor Roger Neumann passes away |last=McNeil |first=Mindi |date=2018-11-29 |language=en |access-date=2018-12-03}}
He wrote arrangements for Count Basie, Buddy Rich, and The Beach Boys.{{cite web |last1=Yanow |first1=Scott |title=Roger Neumann |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/roger-neumann-mn0000156011/biography |website=AllMusic |accessdate=29 November 2018}} He taught in Los Angeles and at the annual Reggie Schive Jazz Camp at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, Iowa.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070702130812/http://www.iowalakes.edu/faculty/ayres/Roger%20Neumann.htm Roger Neumann] Iowa Lakes University of Okoboji Reggie Schive Summer Jazz Camp, 3 September 2010
He was principal director of Buddy Collette's JazzAmerica, a non-profit organization run by bassist Richard Simon that provides free jazz education to young players. He was a mentor for the L.A. Jazz Society.{{cite web|url= https://www.reggieschivejazzcamp.com/|title = Reggie Schive Jazz Camp at Iowa Lakes Community College |website=reggieschivejazzcamp |access-date=1 February 2020}}{{cite web|url= https://www.npr.org/2007/10/17/15343792/buddy-collette-man-of-many-parts |title = Buddy Collette: Man of Many Parts|website=National Public Radio |date=17 October 2007|access-date=1 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.jazzfestatsea.com/richard-simon |title =Richard Simon, Bass|website= JazzFest at Sea |access-date=1 February 2020}}
Early life
Neumann was born in Minot, North Dakota, lived for a short while in Akron, Ohio, then moved to Spencer, Iowa, at age five. He began studying soprano saxophone at a young age under the tutelage of his father, Hugo Neumann, a professional trombone and saxophone player.{{cite news |last=Todd |first=Kris |title=Neumann's Path of Jazz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dd9GAAAAIBAJ&pg=3052%2C403719 |accessdate=28 November 2018 |date=8 November 2003 |publisher=The Daily Reporter|location=Spencer, Iowa}}
In middle school he switched to tenor saxophone, his main instrument for the rest of his career. He began playing professionally in northwest Iowa while in high school, then became a music major at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. While in high school and college he played and wrote arrangements for the Billy Redman Band, a 10-piece territory band. He played in jazz clubs in Sioux City during the late 1950s and early '60s. After graduating, he toured with the Jack Gillespie Band from Minneapolis then joined the Lee Castle/Jimmy Dorsey Band. After that he became a public school band director in Guthrie Center, Iowa.
In 1965, Neumann enrolled at the Berklee School of Music. After two years at Berklee, he was offered a job by Woody Herman to join Herman's Thundering Herd, with whom he toured for the balance of that year. He is heard with that edition of the Herman band on the 1967 recording Concerto for Herd recorded live at the Monterey Jazz Festival, soloing on "Big Sur Echo."{{cite web|url= http://www.richardstoltzman.com/blog/http/wwwrichardstoltzmancom/2017/2/18/thundering-herd |title = Woody Herman's Thundering Herd|website= Richard Stoltzman, clarinet| date=26 April 2017 |access-date=1 February 2020}}
Career
After moving to Los Angeles in 1968, Neumann worked the Bob Crosby Band, Les Brown & The Band of Renown, Benny Carter, Ray Anthony, Tex Beneke, the Bill Elliot Swing Orchestra, and singer Anita O'Day.
In 1975, he formed Roger Neumann's Rather Large Band.{{cite web |last1=Stewart |first1=Zan |title=Music That Swings |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-03-26-va-15565-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=29 November 2018 |date=26 March 1993}} The Rather Large Band released Introducing Roger Neumann's Rather Large Band (1983) and Instant Heat (1994). Neumann has played baritone saxophone and contributed arrangements to the Phil Norman Tentet. In 2002, he won the LA Jazz Society's Jazz Composer/Arranger Award.{{cite web|url= https://jazzbakery.org/events/phil-norman-tentet-25th-anniversary |title = Phil Norman Tentet|website= The Jazz Bakery | date=11 February 2019 |access-date=1 February 2020}}{{cite web|url= https://www.ejazzlines.com/big-band-arrangements/by-arranger/roger-neumann-big-band-arrangements/|title = Neumann, Roger|website= ejazzlines |access-date=1 February 2020}}{{cite web|url= https://lajazz.org/past-tribute-awardees/|title =2002 Roger Neumann. Jazz Composer/Arranger Award|website= Los Angeles Jazz Society |access-date=1 February 2020}}
Personal life
He was married to singer Madeline Vergari. His Rather Large Band played on her album This Is My Lucky Day.{{cite web |url= http://www.lamoredance.com/Staff.php |title= Madeline Vergari Neumann |website= L'amore Dance and Performing Arts |access-date= 1 February 2020 |archive-date= 24 February 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200224153555/http://www.lamoredance.com/Staff.php |url-status= dead }}{{cite web|url= https://jazztimes.com/archives/madeline-vergari-and-roger-neumans-rather-large-band-this-is-my-lucky-day/ |title =Madeline Vergari and Roger Neuman's Rather Large Band: This is My Lucky Day|website= JazzTimes |author= Patricia Myers |date= 1 March 1997|access-date=1 February 2020}}
References
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Category:Jazz musicians from Los Angeles
Category:People from Minot, North Dakota
Category:People from Spencer, Iowa
Category:Musicians from North Dakota
Category:21st-century American saxophonists
Category:American jazz composers
Category:American jazz saxophonists
Category:American male saxophonists
Category:Berklee College of Music alumni
Category:Morningside University alumni
Category:American male jazz composers