Charlie Rosen

[sgcim]

I remember talking with a sax player friend of mine on a gig once back when tech was starting to make us feel like dinosaurs, and I asked him, "Who do you think is going to be able to survive this tech onslaught in the future?"

He thought that it would have to be someone who could literally do everything.

That was about 30 years ago, and I guess the future is here. WKCR, Columbia's jazz station, has been playing an interview with multi-instrumentalist/composer/arranger/bandleader/vocalist Charlie Rosen (not the late pianist, although back in college we used to call him 'Charlie' behind his back), who has led a few of his own big bands; one that plays mainly jazz arr. of Broadway tunes, another that plays his video game music, that uses some electronic instruments, and a more eclectic one that uses a string section.

He was one of those kids with parents who were 'legit' musicians, and he learned how to play most instruments, was born with perfect pitch, and studied composition, piano and arranging when he was young. Here's proof that he is indeed a multi-instrumentalist:

Here's his more pop-oriented modern band:

And here's his 'Broadway' band:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi1HPD8ioR0