Stuart Rosh & The Geniuses

Artist Information

Biography

The Real Detroit Weekly says about Stuart Rosh, "This guy has mega-chops cemented by lyrics that recall Cohen and Zevon." Brian Baker of Cincinnati CityBeat (Critic's Pick) says, "Stuart Rosh likes juxtaposing contemporary lyrical concerns of love, culture, politics and parenthood against the dusty sound of traditional musical styles. It's like listening to 78s on a really great stereo."

Stuart Rosh plays what he calls American Mutt Music. Elements of blues, jazz, swing and cabaret provide a backdrop to tales about grown men and women living in a funny world that sometimes just plain doesn't make sense.

In an age where most people think pop music started with Elvis and The Beatles, Stuart's influences are almost all pre-rock and include Harold Arlen, Frank Loesser, Mose Allison, Fats Waller, and Oscar Brown, Jr.

Stuart Rosh was born and raised in Milwaukee, and lives in San Francisco. He grew up listening to and performing Yiddish (his first language), Russian and religious music. From the age of three until about twelve, he was obsessed with top 40 pop. Then he heard Muddy Waters and Miles Davis, and that was that. In a previous life, he was a geophysics professor at a university well known for its basketball team.

The Geniuses have played with the likes of James Brown, The Rolling Stones, NRBQ, Delbert McClinton, Marshall Tucker, Leon Russell, Nanci Griffith, Guster, and the list goes on.

Americana-UK made Stuart & The Geniuses first CD one of their Best of 2004. Their second CD made Freight Train Boogie's Best of 2005. Their third was in the Top 25 of 2007 for Indie-Music.com. Their songs have been heard on TBS and PBS.

The Village Voice gave Stuart Rosh and The Geniuses a "Choice Cut" in 2005. ObscureSound.com said about their third album, “Simply put, American Vernacular is an unpredictable gem. You will not find many others this year that mix lyrical ingenuity with instrumental brilliance in such a passionate display.”

Stuart Rosh & The Geniuses’ fourth album, Fundamental, came out in 2009. Fundamental is their most unified and best yet. On Fundamental, you’ll find a blend of plain old American Mutt Music performed with freshness, humor, and verve. Jazz.com says of Fundamental, "This is all about showmanship - a concept many times forgotten these days. I don't see how it is possible to not like this CD."

Stuart Rosh & The Geniuses next album will be out in 2012.

Ken Mowery of Indie-Music.com says, “There is an 'old friend' honesty in the music of Stuart Rosh & The Geniuses. It's a warm and welcoming aura.” Watch them live or sit down and put any of Stuart Rosh & The Geniuses albums in your mp3 or CD player, and catch that warm and welcoming aura.

Instrumentation

Stuart Rosh - guitar, vocals, harmonica
Stuart can play solo but if you want the big sound:
Rick Gordon - Guitar
Jim Hoke - Sax
Ronnie Godfrey - Piano
Kathy Burkly - Drums
John Vogt - Bass

Discography

Two Way Street (LP) out in 2012.
Fundamental (LP) 2009.
American Vernacular (LP) 2007.
Hummingbirds in Flight (LP) 2005.
Accept No Imitations (LP) 2004.

Official Website

http://www.stuartrosh.com

Audio

• Some Things Get Better With Age
  Listen  
• Coffee Without Caffeine
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• When a Woman and Man (Become Friends)
  Listen  
• Script Doctor
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• Eat At Home
  Listen  
• I'm Still Learning
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• The Library
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• Something Upstairs
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Some Things Get Better With Age
• Coffee Without Caffeine
• When a Woman and Man (Become Friends)
• Script Doctor
• Eat At Home
• I'm Still Learning
• The Library
• Something Upstairs

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Chris Handyside
  

  This guy has mega-chops: a beguiling cross-breeding cemented by lyrics that recall Cohen and Zevon.

• Don Chance [+ Show ]
  

  Rosh has captured the intimate immediacy of a bistro bandstand, and that ambiance is not always easy...Rosh has captured the intimate immediacy of a bistro bandstand, and that ambiance is not always easy to recreate. This collection should find an eager audience with just about anyone seeking an alternative to modern radio fluff.

• Brian Baker [+ Show ]
  

  Critic's pick, MidPoint Festival. "Stuart Rosh likes juxtaposing contemporary lyrical concerns of l...Critic's pick, MidPoint Festival. "Stuart Rosh likes juxtaposing contemporary lyrical concerns of love, culture, politics and parenthood against the dusty sound of traditional musical styles. It's like listening to 78s on a really great stereo."

• Nate Seltenrich [+ Show ]
  

  Charming tales about decaffeinated coffee, golf course foibles, five-dollar shoes, picking up chicks...Charming tales about decaffeinated coffee, golf course foibles, five-dollar shoes, picking up chicks at the library, and more - all set to peppy, horn-laden cabaret grounded in blues and '40s and '50s vocal jazz - make Stuart Rosh's fourth album an unexpected and undeniable treat. Across all twelve tracks, he and his band never lose their groove.

• Walter Kolosky [+ Show ]
  

  It took about 10 seconds to realize that Rosh is a talented lyricist. Each fun tale is told in a suc...It took about 10 seconds to realize that Rosh is a talented lyricist. Each fun tale is told in a succinct and entertaining flow. This is all about showmanship - a concept many times forgotten these days. I don't see how it is possible to not like this CD (Fundamental).

• Editors [+ Show ]
  

  Performed with freshness, humor and verve. So vivid that you can almost hear the late-night clink of...Performed with freshness, humor and verve. So vivid that you can almost hear the late-night clink of ice cubes.

• Paul Freeman [+ Show ]
  

  Rosh gets down to basics on his fourth album and the results are irresistible. The unassuming blend ...Rosh gets down to basics on his fourth album and the results are irresistible. The unassuming blend of blues, rock and trad jazz displays profound love, respect and understanding of the genres. With Rosh's canny vocals and clever lyrics, backed by impressive instrumentation, "Fundamental" is fabulously funky fun.

• Mike Mineo [+ Show ]
  

  Simply put, American Vernacular is an unpredictable gem. You will not find many others this year th...Simply put, American Vernacular is an unpredictable gem. You will not find many others this year that mix lyrical ingenuity with instrumental brilliance in such a passionate display.

• Don Grant [+ Show ]
  

  Now here's a guy who can quit his day job with impunity. Stuart Rojstaczer, geologist and professor,...Now here's a guy who can quit his day job with impunity. Stuart Rojstaczer, geologist and professor, has an alter ego named Stuart Rosh, and he's a pretty scratch musician and songwriter. His blend of bluegrass, jazz, and blues/rock would seem to belie any academe connection, except that his lyrics betray him. Articulate, concise, and not unnecessarily embellished, his words say what's on his mind with brevity that is refreshing.

• Ken Mowery [+ Show ]
  

  There is an “old friend” honesty in the music of Stuart Rosh & The Geniuses. Rosh likes the contrast...There is an “old friend” honesty in the music of Stuart Rosh & The Geniuses. Rosh likes the contrast of mixing vintage sound with what he calls “here and now lyrics." The combination produces an earthy, down-home style that is believable, affirming and relevant.

Setlist

We can play two-three 45 minute sets of all originals. If you have an ASCAP license, we'll stick in a Cab Calloway or Fats Waller tune or two along the way. We love to swing.

Basic Requirements

Calendar