Fabio Rojas | Perseverance | September 19, 2024
Venezuelan drummer/film composer and educator Fabio Rojas first immigrated to the USA 14 years ago to pursue his musical studies at the Berklee College of Music. Guided by the proverb “el que persevera, vence” (he who perseveres, wins), Rojas’ new album reflects on Venezuela’s transition from a prosperous democracy into a dictatorship, as well as the blood, sweat and tears of his personal journey in music.
‘Perseverance’ is set to release on September 19th.
Currently residing in New York City, Rojas’ career has seen him perform at prestigious venues and festivals such as SXSW, Lincoln Center, and Daegu Jazz Festival (KR) with a host of celebrated musicians like Geri Allen, Greg Osby Band, Grace VanderWaal, Pepe De Lucia and more. His quintet on ‘Perseverance’ features some of New York’s finest including sax legend Greg Osby, Grammy nominated bassist Osmar Okuma, and the celebrated Gustavo D’amico and Kevin Harris on Sax/flute and piano respectively.
The record’s sound is a musical representation of Venezuela’s political turmoil and how it affected every aspect of Rojas’ life. Saxophones emulate the sound of sirens in close dissonant clusters, and the rhythmic piano motif in ‘Ni un paso atras’ is a transcription of the chant shouted by thousands of Venezuelans at protests, “Not one step backwards!”. Slick modern drum grooves, Venezuelan folk rhythms, and complex contemporary harmony are woven together through Rojas’ intricate and personal compositional voice.
Drawing on decades of collective experience, the quintet use each piece as a springboard for extensive and dynamic improvisations, feeding off each others’ building energy with Osby’s alto soaring into tension riddled passages of angular wizardry and free-ness.
Line up
Fabio Rojas | Drums, Compositions, Producer
Greg Osby | Alto Saxophone
Gustavo D’amico | Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute
Kevin Harris | Piano, Rhodes
Osmar Okuma | Double Bass, Electric Bass
Track Listing
Ni un paso atrás
Atlas Homage AP
Loneliness
Dandelion
NU, Justice or Accomplice?
Outro
PR Quotes
Making a Scene (US)
“Rojas has modernized this music, using the unique jazz elements of improvisation”
Jazz Weekly (US)
“building up energy like a tidal wave… Hold on tight!”
Verhoovens Jazz (DE)
“genuine and long-lasting recommendation!”
Jazz in Family (IT)
“an album destined to make it’s mark on the international contemporary jazz scene”
Esensja (PL)
“As persistent as a Venezuelan”
JazzTrail (US)
“a drummer and composer to watch for future sonic explorations”
Paris-move (FR)
“one of the most brilliant albums I have had in my hands in recent years”
JazzLife (JP)
“an impressive work that highlights the drummer’s command of intricate rhythms and his ability to unify diverse musical traditions”
Blue in Green (UK)
“Fabio Rojas continues to raise the bar for himself while determinedly maintaining his path.”
Musik an sich (DE)
““very fresh, very lively, very varied, captivating with its rough edges and the surprises that come with them, and therefore – it never gets boring!”