Roger Aldridge, Composer
Jazz, Tango, Blues, New Music, Roots Music, and More
Think of my website as a virtual performance center where people from many countries can listen to this music. A variety of groups are performing, from solo guitar to a large jazz orchestra, and there are many kinds of music to explore.
Featured Music
Sleepy Creek Samba (inspired by Sleepy Creek Mountain in Morgan County, West Virginia) is a bright and happy piece for mid-size jazz ensemble. It is dedicated to the Morgan Arts Council. Recorded by David Arivett, score demo. The instrumentation used in the demo is violin, woodwind quintet (with alto flute), piano, guitar, bass, and drums.
Toads! Words that come to mind about this piece are strange, edgy, and fun. In just over a minute the music moves seamlessly through four different styles. I think of it as invoking images of mutant creatures wreaking havoc on a small town in a 1950's monster movie. Recorded by Amy Leonard, violin; Jason Shapiro, tenor saxophone; E. Shawn Qaissaunee, guitar; Peter McCarthy, bass; and Skip Rohrich, drums. Note: The recording is a tune demo, not a full-length performance.
New Tango No. 7 is part of a series of tango-jazz compositions. Each one explores a particular quality of the tango. Number 7 is a fast tango with a joyful and passionate spirit. Recorded by David Arivett, piano.