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Chad Rager (ray-gr) Chad Rager Groove is a high energy horn band that reflects Chad's broad musical spectrum. Hard driving arrangements from the
Big Band era to Modern Jazz-Funk music are showcased in "21st Century Groove" Chad's 1st Strokeland
release.
"Live at the Paramount" Chad's
2nd Strokeland CD has been recorded and is ready for mixing and
mastering. More details soon. Set for a fall 2010 release,the new CD continues
the Chad Rager Groove journey creating high energy music
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 The Chad Rager Groove is a featured artist on
Horn Driven Radio
The
station is focused on Soul, Funk & Jazz from all eras;
both familiar and rare. To hear
more music from the
Chad Rager Groove please click on more music
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"The Drumslinger"
Chad Rager leads the Chad Rager Groove,a powerhouse Jazz-Funk Horn Band! The dynamic 5 piece horn section features 2 trumpets, trombone,
tenor sax, and bari sax. Completing the band, keyboards and bass add intensity to the mix. Now you have the vehicle for Chad
Rager to create his
innovative concepts and creating a percussive punch that's unique - and his alone. When you hear the Chad Rager Groove you know you are listening to one of the finest Jazz-Funk
Horn Bands touring!
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From AMG Reviews- Paula Edelstein,
All Music Guide Chad Rager Groove: 21st
Century Groove (Strokeland Records SR007CD) The Chad Rager Groove
features fantastic horns, great bass, sizzling keyboards, superb arrangements of old and new songs, all drawn together by
the drum slinger himself.
Based in Chicago, drummer Chad Rager rages
to the delight of his fellow big band members on such great standards as Monk's "Straight No Chaser,"
and
his own "Pyramid of Pachyderms."
This band's arrangements of songs that span the musical spectrum are glowing
vehicles
for Rager's high energy drumming.
Give a listen
to "The Heat's On," to hear
Rager's innovative grooves
and the unconventional comping by each band member.
Top picks: "Smile" the classic that everybody loves
and "Chicklets" by Brooke Hopkins.
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Fritz the Night Owl
WJZA Smooth Jazz 103.5
- It takes only seven words to describe Chad Rager:
- “a dynamic drummer of the first rank.”
- And this description perfectly defines his latest release,
- 21st Century Groove
- recorded live at Mills James Productions in Hilliard.
- Chad,
a 1972 graduate of Columbus North High, worked our local scene for years as a player, teacher, and
clinician.
- He currently
resides in Illinois and fronts Groove,
- a powerhouse octet that produces an energized big band sound with the intimacy and individuality of a small group.
- His drumming reflects his
early influences: the power of Krupa, the technique of Rich, the dynamics of Bellson,
- and the musicality of Roach.
- To these, he adds his own innovative concepts and strengths, thus creating
a percussive punch that’s unique – and his alone.
- This is exciting, foot-tappin’, finger-snappin’ foreground
jazz
- at its most-intense – definitely not the CD
- for use as background at your next tea party,
- intimate dinner, or romantic
interlude.
- Every track cooks-on-high, from the opening
- “Sing, Sing, Sing,” or the closing “Whipping Post.”
- In between
you’ll enjoy pulse-pounding performances from the songbooks of Monk and Nestico, along with a few Rager
originals.
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The late & legendary Louie Bellson
Louie Bellson's
letter
with comments about the CD *note "Looking Down The Road" was the working title and
the video Louie mentions will be released in the future.
"Your new CD, * "Looking Down the Road" is excellent.
I like the
live recording. The digital recording and mix is great. The *video is first rate. You have a wonderful product Chad.
I congratulate you and wish you an enormous amount of success."
Louie
Bellson tune comments:
Pyramid of Pachyderms - " you hit a nice groove with this shuffle, your
drums have a crisp clear sound. good solos and good arrangement."
The Heat's On- "good tempo
on Nestico's tune. your drum fills are excellent.
" Zomba Samba-
"Chad here you really supplied the band with a great time
feel.
" Sing, Sing, Sing- "you paid Gene a great tribute by
making this piece really sing.
" Squib Cakes- "great groove. I love the tune. well played.
" St. Bernard- "Buddy
would have enjoyed this composition-clear and well stated."
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We at Maxwell Drums are proud to announce that we have signed Chad Rager as our first endorser.
We're
thrilled to have Chad on board!
We have built a custom
gold glitter kit for Chad to play in the
"Chad Rager Groove".
Chad will be playing this kit on tour to support his
Strokeland CD "21st Century
Groove".
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 Chad's Gear: Chad has combined his favorite
Maxwell drums and Sabian cymbals for his "official"set up. All drums have Aquarian Modern Vintage Drumheads. Completing the set up is Gibraltar Hardware, and a Trick Pro 1-V Bass
Drum Pedal. Chad uses Vic Firth Extreme 5A Drumsticks with Humes and Berg Enduro Cases protecting Chad's
gear on tour.
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Chad Rager is a Strokeland Records Recording artist. "Strokeland is proud to have Chad Rager in our roster of stars. Good material, good arrangements,
good performances from a big band. Groups like these are becoming increasingly more rare in today's economic
climate and we hope the Chad Rager Groove survives and thrives for
many years to come. If you haven't heard 21st CENTURY GROOVE, please
get it ... you will like it." Stephen 'Doc' Kupka
Chad
Rager is exclusively managed
by
Trinity Management Corporation Ltd.
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 Chad Rager heard Benny
Goodman's greatest drummer, Gene Krupa when Chad was 12 years old. He knew this was how drums should be played. His goal
was to reach that level of drumming. After hearing Gene Krupa the next drummer who had impact on him was Buddy Rich. Gene's
drumming on the song "Sing, Sing, Sing” changed the way audiences viewed the drummer and made the drummer a star.
Buddy Rich took this concept to a level not seen before or since. His overwhelming technique and musicality became a dominant
influence in Chad's playing. Buddy's perspective can be heard in the power of a Rager performance.
Irv
Cottler (Frank Sinatra's great drummer) showed Chad how to swing with a singer. Ron Tutt (Elvis, Neil Diamond) showed him
how to play with energy and intensity. Billy Cobham showed the way of fusion drumming and Chad embraced this style and
added it to his playing concepts. The legendary Louie Bellson encouraged him to start his own modern big band as did Roy
Burns who continues to be a mentor to Chad. David Garibaldi and Bernard Purdie gave him his funk concept. And John Bonham
changed rock drumming and Chad added this concept to his own drumming as well.
Chad sites tap dancer Steve
Condos as his musical father. Steve showed him how to combine all of these influences into a cohesive package and helped
him become a complete drummer. Steve's idea of combining rhythms between hands and feet and placing them anywhere on the
drums and cymbals changed Chad's drumming to a dancer's point of view. He was able to use all his influences with Steve's
guidance to become the drummer you hear now. |
A truly gifted drummer whos dynamic intensity is only matched by his musicality.
Chad's vision of
music is reflected in everything he plays. When you hear and see
Chad perform you know that drumming's rich history is alive
and swinging!
ONE OF A KIND! Chad is available for an
informative seminar discussing his musical concepts that is presented in conjuction with the concert.
Ask about the Chad
Rager music seminar! and have your school band
open for the CHAD RAGER Groove
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