Roger

Roger Byam began his career as a musician playing the saxophone with various rhythm and blues and jazz bands in the Queens, New York area while going to High school. One of these groups was the Doowop group, The Cleftones, who were longtime neighbors of his. This was where he spent many hours learning about harmony from seasoned professionals. Herb Cox was very mindful of the fact that High schoolers (friends of his son Daryl) were coming around showing great interest in the business. He tried to convey the fact that it wasn’t all a rose garden. Herb Cox always presented a balanced view in the many tales he told. After High School upon being accepted to Boston University the focus was Boston and school work and an occasional gig back in New York. Roger soon realized New York was the real “Mecca” for music so he came back to New York to continue his studies at Queens College and get a head start in the music business.In 1978 he received a call from Wayne Cobham to play in the house band of the then famous Leviticus Intl., a Night Club in midtown Manhattan. This continued through the mid 80s. In the early 80’s he took a leave of absence to go on the road with Archie Bell (of Archie Bell and the Drells) in support of Mr. Bell’s solo career that continues to this day. This was during the summer of 1982. This is where he also met Michael Hill (of the Blues Mob) and played in an earl ier incarnation called Bluesland. This relationship started a long association with the New York chapter of The Black Rock Coalition (BRC) where along with Michael Hill he met and performed with such notables as Vernon Reid (Living Color), Sekou Sundiatta, Michael Hampton (Funkadelic), Wil Calhoun (Living Color) and Ronnie Drayton (Nona Hendrix). He also went on the road in Italy in 1986 with Pop, Rock singer Loredana Berte. This was through a call from Wayne Cobham of the Leviticus days. The summer included great music, great food, in a beautiful country of which we saw a great portion.Some notable recordings during the 80s were on Jocelyn Brown’s hit single Somebody else’s Guy and EU’s hit single, Doin’ the Butt, produced by Marcus Miller for Spike Lee’s Movie School Daze.Since 1990 he has performed under the leadership of the great jazz drummer, Billy Cobham. Shortly after this he performed and recorded with the great songstress Roberta Flack from 1991 through 1996. During this same time period he also performed with Will Downing and Gwen Guthrie. In 1997 he got a call from long time friend Enos Payne (who he had met at Queens College) to teach reeds at the Brooklyn Conservatory (Flushing Branch). This he did until the call came from Marcus Miller a year later who he also knew from Queens College. From 1998 until 2005 he has performed with The Marcus Miller Band. Through out the 90s he has performed with and has done numerous recordings with (Japanese Trumpeter) Terumasa Hino, (Jazz Pianist) Onaje Allan Gumbs, (Jazz Vocalist) Vanessa Rubin, (Jazz Trumpeter) Cecil Bridgewater, (bass virtuoso) Marcus Miller, the great percussionist, Mongo Santamaria and (Jazz Trumpeter) Ray Vega.Being part of the New York “Registry”, he has also recorded with such artists as Marlena Shaw, Freddie Jackson, Dionne Warwicke, Martha Wash, and Barry Eastmond. He has also performed with such artists as Ben E. King, (Jazz historian and musicologist) Max Roach, (Jazz Drummer) Michael Carvin, and (pop and jazz trumpeter) Tom Brown. He has also done live performances wit h a host of other great jazz musicians. Lenny White, Joe Chambers, Victor Bailey, Don Blackman, Victor Lewis, Big Black, Eddie Henderson, Cecil McBee, Gil Coggins, Claudio Roditi, and Buddy Williams to name a few.His many musical influences has tempered his style and created a very colorful and eclectic approach to the saxophone. Years of experience and excellence are what he brings to the table in any musical situation along with a very exciting melodic style and very dynamic tone quality. Roger Byam plays Tenor, Alto and Soprano saxophones. He also plays Flute and Clarinet. He can be seen on occasion with Onaje Allan Gumbs, and Norman Hedeman’s Tropique.