Roger Clark
Roger Clark has now joined the ranks of those fortunate saxophonists who play a Yamaha 82Z un-lacquered. He feels most privileged to own such an instrument, as it gives him the volume and response he needs to play lead alto in his big band, or alternatively soft and warm when he is playing creative ballads with his small group.
Playing clarinet in the school band gave Roger his first taste of jazz and was a stepping stone to a lifelong love affair with this musical art form. After leaving school, he sold his push bike to buy his first alto saxophone, which today remains his instrument of choice, despite occasional forays into the fields of flute and clarinet, not to mention that other stalwart of the saxophone family – the tenor.
Later on a business career meant extensive travel for Roger, which included stints of playing in South East Asia, Africa, London, Paris and Berlin in a style that has been heavily influenced by such greats as Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Phil Woods.
In 1999 Roger founded Dizzy’s Jazz Club in the small and intimate National Trust building that once housed the Richmond Post Office. This venture has meant involvement with the cream of the Melbourne jazz scene, as well as the opportunity to mentor up and coming musicians through twice weekly jam sessions and a weekly Jazz Youth Night, where school big bands regularly strut their stuff.
Roger’s latest CD Centre Stage at Dizzy’s features his different bands playing with the best singers, saxophonists and trumpeters Melbourne has to offer.