Dr Rodger Fox CNZM was New Zealand’s foremost jazz trombonist, big band leader, jazz educator, and producer. He founded the eponymous jazz band the Rodger Fox Big Band in 1973 and spent many years touring in New Zealand and overseas.
He was part of the team that established the first jazz courses at the Wellington Polytechnic in the 1980s, which later turned into the New Zealand School of Music and became part of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
The Rodger Fox Big Band played at international jazz festivals such as Montreux in Switzerland and Monterey in California, to great acclaim. The Rodger Fox Big Band remains unparalleled in New Zealand jazz circles today.
As a performer and producer, Rodger was prolific and highly accomplished. He recorded 44 albums including studio and live recordings and was awarded the Aotearoa Music Award (Tui) for the best New Zealand Jazz Recording of the Year four times.
He collaborated with well-known New Zealand artists across a range of genres, including Dave Dobbyn, classical pianist Michael Houstoun, and in 2023 he toured with hip hop artist King Kapisi. As a teenager he joined Quincy Conserve, one of New Zealand’s great pioneering bands from the 1960s.
Alongside his legendary jazz status, Rodger was also held in high esteem as a jazz educator. He taught as a senior lecturer at Victoria University as well as supervising Master’s and PhD students, and mentoring many others. He provided opportunities for young musicians to play in the Rodger Fox Big Band and regarded it as a training ground.
“I am devastated by the news of Rodger’s death,” says former student and saxophonist Eilish Wilson. “He worked tirelessly and selflessly for the music and for all of his students and colleagues. I’ll never forget having a hard time at uni and visiting his office for advice, which was ‘maaaaaan, just play like yourself. Be yourself’. I loved Rodger as a mentor, colleague, and above all, friend.”
The Rodger Fox Big Band operated as a non-profit organisation with earnings going towards educational opportunities, to fund trips to jazz festivals or jazz education conferences, and to bring overseas musicians to collaborate with the band.
“Rodger has led our Jazz Big Band and taught trombone for many years at NZSM. I think it’s safe to say that he was instrumental in building our big band programme,” says Dr Jian Liu, Acting Head of School, NZSM.
“He truly believed and saw NZSM as the place to train and support future jazz musicians in New Zealand, and he did just that.”
Within the University, Rodger drove the creation of jazz-specific materials for recruitment and was active in student recruitment and school promotions at various national and international events, and government functions.
NZSM Denis Adam Chair in Music Professor Sally Jane Norman, says, “For decades Rodger has scoured Aotearoa, visiting schools for workshops and masterclasses, participating in and adjudicating at our regional festivals, constantly drawing new talent to Te Kōkī and to our city, nurturing current and next generation musicians—including our teachers.”
In 2022 Rodger was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music, following his 2003 award as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Massey University in 2005.
NZSM lecturer Daniel Hayles says, “Like many of my peers, Rodger was first my hero and then my champion. He saw potential in everyone he encountered, took a chance on so many of us and never overlooked a single person in his mission to build our scene and spread joy in music. His energy was endless and his presence was galvanising. We loved him and he will be sorely missed.”
He has performed in concert with some of the biggest names from the jazz and entertainment world, including Michael Brecker, Steve Gadd, James Carter, Dave Weckl, Louie Bellson, Bill Reichenbach, Chuck Findley, Randy Crawford, Bobby Shew, Lanny Morgan, Bruce Paulson, Diane Schuur, Arturo Sandoval, David Clayton-Thomas, Joe Williams, The Four Tops and The Temptations, Gary Grant, Jon Papenbrook, Bill Cunliffe, Holly Hofmann, and Kevin Mahogany. He was the artistic director of three annual festivals in New Zealand and regularly brought international musicians to New Zealand to perform, collaborate, and teach.
“Rodger truly loved and cared about every single one of his students. He believed in you more than anyone, and taught you that success will come through being true to yourself and having fun doing it,” says former student and saxophonist Louisa Williamson.
“He dedicated his life to bringing people together through music, and did an incredibly inspiring amount of work, nurturing younger musicians especially—in the thousands! I will deeply miss his humour, reassurance, advice, musicianship and guidance.”
Last year the Rodger Fox Big Band celebrated its 50th anniversary in style with a range of concerts including bringing three of the world’s most respected jazz drummers—Gregg Bissonnette, Peter Erskine, and Dennis Chambers—to New Zealand.
“Rodger Fox's passing is a profound loss for our school and the music community in Aotearoa,” says Dr Liu. “His passion for music and education has inspired countless individuals, and his contributions to jazz in New Zealand are unparalleled. I am deeply saddened to lose such a wonderful colleague and friend. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and his many friends worldwide.”