Roger Beaujolais Latin Quartet Live at The Verdict Jazz Club

Roger Beaujolais – vibraphonist/composer

John Crawford - piano

Andres Lafone - bass

Tristan Banks - drums

"Roger Beaujolais has quietly emerged as an essential player on Britain's jazz scene." - The Guardian

Roger was a late starter having never played vibraphone before the age of 24. He is completely self taught & played his first gig at the age of 28, turning professional at the age of 30 when he became the first person to be able to make a living from playing the vibraphone in the UK.

He originally gained recognition with 1980’s jump jive favourites ‘The Chevalier Brothers’ whose musicianship & anarchic brand of humour created enough success for them to play over 200 gigs a year & took them all over the world. They also played numerous TV & radio sessions in many countries.

After a brief spell with chart topping ‘Fairground Attraction’, Roger formed latin jazz outfit the ‘Beaujolais Band’ who released 2 top selling albums on Acid Jazz Records. These were outsold by his 2 jazz/funk/soul albums as ‘Vibraphonic’ released on Acid Jazz again. One self-penned track from the second Vibraphonic album (Can’t Get Enough) made it to number 1 on the US jazz charts. Roger was then signed to Disney’s Hollywood Records in the USA for 2 more Vibraphonic albums.

Roger now concentrates on playing in (& writing for) his quartet and regularly plays as a featured soloist throughout the UK & works in many different bands as a sideman as well as collaborative projects with others. He regularly works in Italy where he has a trio who work around the country.

Roger has played on numerous pop sessions including with artists as diverse as Duffy, Rumer, Robert Plant, Paul Weller, Kirsty MacColl, Roni Size, Morrissey, Alexander O’Neal, Guy Chambers. Shola Ama, Alison Limerick, Omara Portuondo, Fairground Attraction, Graham Coxon, Brian Kennedy, Tony Allen, Ed Motta, Snowboy, Mary Coughlan & Neneh Cherry amongst many others. He has also played live with Slim Gaillard, Pee Wee Ellis, Nelson Rangell & was a member of Jerry Dammer’s Spatial AKA Orchestra which featured guests such as Arthur Brown, Edgar Broughton, Johnny Clarke & Rico.

So far Roger has released 21 albums & has had over 250 compositions recorded & for about 20 years was also working as a Professor of Music at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music.

Host or Publisher The Verdict Jazz Club