Meet Justin Rogers | Composer, Saxophonist, Pianist.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Rogers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
One of my favorite quotes is from the great jazz giant Miles Davis, who once said “Do not fear mistakes, there are none.” To me, this quote embodies the jazz world and the field that I have chosen to pursue. There are many uncertainties in artistic careers, including the internal back and forth between creating art that is true to your passion and attempting to make a living through the craft. Just like when improvising your way through a tune, once you play something that you do not necessarily intend or something that catches you off guard, you find a way to make it sound intentional and keep building from it. This mindset is true in both what I do as a performer and composer, and in life as a whole. This quote is something that I reflect on often, and one that I use to guide myself as I move forward in my career.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As an artist, I live in the world of pushing boundaries. Whether this in my role as a composer, performer, or when I teach lessons. I tend to lean away from the traditional concepts of right vs. wrong in music, and emphasize the idea of intentional vs unintentional in all that I do. As a composer and performer, this means embracing that not everything you play will come through as you intended and will not always be received in the way that you intended. As an educator this means encouraging students to explore their interests and embrace all aspects of their instruments. I primarily compose and arrange for large and small jazz ensembles, and record projects on my own for release on streaming platforms and YouTube. I absolutely love what I do, and would not trade it for anything. The path to where I am now was not easy, and included many challenges from financial needs for college tuition and the sudden changes musicians faced during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to challenges that all musicians face, such as finding time to practice and learning the conventions of their chosen field of study, nearly the entirety of my graduate study at the University of Denver occurred in a distanced fashion. Suddenly students found themselves trying to study music via platforms such as zoom. For me this meant that I would likely not have any live ensembles to perform and record my works, and as a result I forced myself to learn video editing and audio recording skills so that I could record my own works and present them. As a composer, the latency caused by virtual platforms meant that traditional synchronized rhythmic works were harder to accomplish, and so I composed in a way that allowed performers to disregard that latency and play in their own time to create a full work with other musicians. I am most proud of my newfound ability to adapt to these challenges, and I have learned many lessons about what does and does not work in these distanced learning and performing environments. Going back to that Miles Davis quote, I think that attitude is largely what guided me through these obstacles. This is also what I would like to be known about my brand and about me, I am open to any challenge and enjoy the process of overcoming them. This is trued regardless of ensemble size, project format, constraints created by musician abilities, or any other challenges that arise.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would definitely be going to as many live shows as we could, including venues such as Dazzle, Larimer Lounge, the Mercury Café, and some smaller venues where many of my traditional jazz colleagues perform like the Bull and Bush Pub, Westminster Elk’s Lodge (for the Denver Jazz Club Sessions), Snowpack Taproom in Conifer, and Avagadros Number in Fort Collins. There would be some time spent in the mountains enjoying the outdoors, with time spent in places like Conifer and in the Pike National Forest. With time permitting, hopefully some jam sessions or the opportunity to record an improvisation session will arise.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are many, many folks who have helped me develop my craft and become the musician I am today. One of the most influential mentors who I had the good fortune of working with is the late Dr. Fred Hess. I fondly remember spending hours with him each week discussing jazz and working to learn the craft of jazz composition. Every time I sit down to compose, I can imagine him commenting on the material of the work, reminding me of the tools and devices that are available to allow a composition to shine whether it be a small combo work, or a large big band work. Another is Professor Mark Harris from MSU Denver, who I had the opportunity to study with throughout my undergraduate studies. Mark is one of the most down to earth people and open minded out there, and encourages students of all levels to explore their passions whether it be classical saxophone study or experimental free improvisation. Without his guidance, I would not be the musician I am today.
It is also important that I include the Evergreen Jazz Festival on this list, specifically the educational outreach associated with the festival. I started attending the student clinic associated to this festival when I was in middle school, and continued all the way through the end of my undergraduate studies before joining the festival as a member of the Education Committee. Students get the opportunity to work with musicians from all around the world, and truly get a unique experience diving into the traditional jazz world and history. I fully believe this is one of the best educational opportunities in the Denver-Metro area for musicians interested in learning more about traditional jazz.
Again, these are just a few of the people and organizations who have helped shape me into the musician I am today. Others on this list would include Professor Cherise Leiter, Dr. David Farrell, Professor RJ Miller, and Professor Chris Keelan from MSU Denver, as well as Professor Dave Hanson from the University of Denver and many other musicians and teachers I’ve been able to work with such as John Hermanson, Doug Sandusky, Will Heinz, and Dr. Vince Collins.

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