Roger Neumann

Artist Profile:

Roger Neumann

Roger was honored by the Los Angeles Jazz Society September, 2002 for his work as a jazz composer and arranger at the 20th Annual Jazz Tribute and Awards Dinner Concert at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Roger, who plays the saxophone, flute and clarinet, was honored along with internationally acclaimed jazz pianist, Herbie Hancock, John Levey, Annie Ross, James Newton, Howard Rumsey and Gerald Clayton. The Los Angeles Jazz Society is an organization founded in 1985 with the purpose of promoting, preserving and perpetuating the American art form of Jazz, while elevating the community of jazz and jazz artists.

Roger has produced three CD’s entitled, “Introducing Roger Neumann’s Rather Large Band,” “Instant Heat!” and “This is my Lucky Day, featuring the vocal talents of his wife, Madeline Vergari. As an arranger and composer, Neumann has written for Buddy Rich, Count Bassie, Ray Charles, The Raelettes, Ray Brown, The Beach Boys, Jerry Garcia, Ann Jillian and many more. He has written arrangements and compositions for the T.V. series, “The Young and the Restless,” “Moonlighting,” “Hollywood Housewives,” and My Favorite Martian.” He has also composed arrangements for several “Ice Capades” Christmas specials. Neumann has performed with Woody Herman, Lee Castle/Jimmy Dorsey Band, The Beach Boys, Ray Anthony, Les Brown, and Bob Crosby to name a few. His music has been featured on the sound-tracks of several Showtime movies including, “Three Men and a Little Lady,” and “Mumford.” He has appeared in the movies, “LaBamba,” “My Favorite Year,” and “For the Boys.”

Neumann encourages aspiring young jazz musicians to practice their craft and to listen to as many Jazz CDs as possible “We teach them to practice their scales and master their instruments,” said Neumann who has been playing the sax since he was 8 years old. “The most exciting and fun part is getting up and improvising. We help the young people work up the courage to get up and try it. The more you do it the better you get and the better you get, the more fun it is,” Neumann said.

After receiving his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, Roger traveled with the Jack Gillespie Band and the Lee Castle/Jimmy Dorsey Band. Always striving to improve, he studied and taught at the Berklee College of Music in Boston for 2 years at which time (1967) he joined the Woody Herman Band. As a saxophonist, he has worked for Bob Crosby, Ray Conniff, The Beach Boys, Ray Anthony and Anita ODay. As a composer and arranger, he has written for Buddy Rich, Count Basie, Ray Charles, The Raelettes, Ray Brown and The Beach Boys. Many of the Tentets charts are Rogers. Finally he is the leader of The Roger Neumanns Rather Large Band.

Neumann, who plays the saxophone, flute and clarinet, will be honored along with internationally acclaimed jazz pianist, Herbie Hancock, John Levey, Annie Ross, James Newton Howard Rumsey and Gerald Clayton, during the evening ceremony. Neumann said he is honored to be recognized by the Los Angeles Jazz Society. The Los Angeles Jazz Society is an organization founded in 1985 with the purpose of promoting, preserving and perpetuating the American art form of Jazz, while elevating the community of jazz and jazz artists.

As an arranger and composer, Neumann has written for Buddy Rich, Count Bassie, Ray Charles, The Raelettes, Ray Brown, The Beach Boys, Jerry Garcia, Ann Jillian and many more. He has written arrangements and compositions for the T.V. series, “The Young and the Restless,” “Moonlightling,” “Hollywood Housewives,” and My Favorite Martian.” He has also composed arrangements for several “Ice Capades” Christmas specials.

Neumann has performed on his sax, with Woody Herman, Lee Castle/Jimmy Dorsey Band, The Beach Boys, Ray Anthony, Les Brown, and Bob Crosby to name a few. His music has been featured on the sound-tracks of several Showtime movies including, “Three Men and a Little Lady,” and “Mumford.” He has appeared in the movies, “LaBamba,” “My Favorite Year,” and “For the Boys.”