T. Rogers

“T. Rogers” is een zeskoppige blues band uit Budapest, Hongarije. De naam van de groep is gebaseerd op het Hongaarse woord ‘troger’, levensgenieter. De groep is in 2004 opgericht en speelt akoestische en elektrische blues. Hun werk is beïnvloed door meerdere stijlen en reflecteert de verschillende smaken van de bandleden. Samengevat willen ze, zoals het zelf omschrijven, onderhoudende lichte ‘joy & blues’ brengen. Hun eerste albums “Driven By The Blues” (debuutalbum, 2006) en de opvolger “Wear Your Soul” (2007) kenden onmiddellijk veel bijval en hun nummers werden op meerdere Europese radiozenders uitgezonden. “T. Rogers” is in meerdere clubs opgetreden en tourde door Europa. In 2008 zijn ze in België tijdens het ‘Bière Blanche et Musique Noire’ Festival in Gouvy (La Madelonne) opgetreden. Het nummer “Goin’ Home Train” haalde de finale van de “International Songwriting Competition” en de finale van de “International Acoustic Music Awards”. “T. Rogers” was de backing band van Mem Shannon tijdens zijn Europese tour. Bij de opnamen van “Live From Home” in 2010 vervangt de Canadees Stew Hay de eerdere mondharmonicaspeler Miki Tóth. De band is bekend voor zijn sterke live optredens.

Op hun vierde en meest recente album is hun special gast Keb’ Mo’ (artiestennaam van Kevin Moore). Hij zingt en speelt slide gitaar op de track “Angelina”. Twee nummers van het nieuwe album zijn covers van de bluesgitarist / zanger uit Mississippi Elmore James en van de componist / zanger / keyboardspeler uit NY, Kevin Moore. ”Far And Slow” opent het album. Stew Hay op mondharmonica is de sfeerbrenger en aan de zang van Ferci Kovács is zijn herkomst niet te achterhalen. ”Weary Road” klinkt voodoo en groovy door de hoge stem van Kovács met opnieuw de sterke harmonica riffs van Stew Hay. ”Gotto Go” klinkt totaal anders dan de openers en gaat meer richting Chicago blues. Kovács eerste gitaarsolo’s zijn een feit. ”Angelina” (Kevin Moore, alias Keb’ Mo’) is de eerste cover met gastoptreden van Keb’ Mo’. In zijn typische stijl doet hij op gitaar wat hij op de resophonic slide gitaar wat hij moet doen: zorgeloos zingen en hopen dat ze terug naar huis komt… ”Something Human” is de wat vreemde pop eend in deze bijt en kan ik niet direct aan een blues tak vastbinden. Na het geroezemoes gaat de swing er zonder veel complexen in met ”The Regular’s Blues”. ”Sun On My Back” is opnieuw een compositie van Ferci Kovács, de frontman. Veel slide gitaar en country rock toestanden bepalen de sfeer en gezelligheid. Het nummer ”Mood For The Day” dat de tweede cover voorafgaat is een rustig nummer, dat het vooral van het vocale moet hebben. Het leuke melodietje zal bij menig blues liefhebber niet de grote indruk maken. De Elmore James’ cover ”It Hurts Me Too (Elmore James) is de gegeerde cover op meerdere nieuwe releases van deze maand. Wat moet Elmore zich goed gevoeld moeten hebben, wetende dat hij tot in Hongarije aanhang zou hebben. De versie van “T. Rogers” is niet de gebruikelijke langzame versie, maar klinkt behoorlijk pittig en apart. Ook dit moet kunnen en maakt indruk! Met ”Sunshine Cold” gaan de deuren langzaam dicht. Eerst nog even grooven en funken en het uitzingen, om daarna met ”Simple Life” rustig te kunnen afsluiten. Deze ballade (de titelsong!) met het hart van een popsong, glijdt even snel weg als het zakken van de zon op een late zomeravond.

Met “T. Rogers” moeten we ons niet direct grote zorgen maken in het epicentrum van de blues in Hongarije. De nummers op het album “Simple Life” klinken optimistisch en zonder veel complexen. De bluesy nummers wisselen af met rock en pop nummers, maar worden soms wat te snel over dezelfde kam geschoren. Met wat meer optredens in meerdere Europese landen zal de groep hier sneller aanhang kunnen vinden, want muziek blijft een universele taal. Dat de groep over muzikale kwaliteiten bezit is opnieuw duidelijk. Nu nog hopen dat nieuwe optredens op bekende festivals niet uitblijven en dat een definitieve doorbraak snel zal volgen.

Eric Schuurmans

Line up:
Béla Baráth: drums
Stewart Harp: harmonica
Ferci Kovács: vocals, guitars
Pál Sturman: guitars
Zsolt Szatai: bass
Vince Széil: percussion, mandolin


Guest:
Keb’ Mo’: vocals & resophonic slide guitar

Discography:
2006: “Driven By The Blues”
2008: “Wear Your Soul”
2010: “Live From Home”
2013: “Simple Life” - Rootstime.be

“T. Rogers” is een zeskoppige blues band uit Budapest, Hongarije. De naam van de groep is gebaseerd op het Hongaarse woord ‘troger’, levensgenieter. De groep is in 2004 opgericht en speelt akoestische en elektrische blues. Hun werk is beïnvloed door meerdere stijlen en reflecteert de verschillende smaken van de bandleden. Samengevat willen ze, zoals het zelf omschrijven, onderhoudende lichte ‘joy & blues’ brengen. Hun eerste albums “Driven By The Blues” (debuutalbum, 2006) en de opvolger “Wear Your Soul” (2007) kenden onmiddellijk veel bijval en hun nummers werden op meerdere Europese radiozenders uitgezonden. “T. Rogers” is in meerdere clubs opgetreden en tourde door Europa. In 2008 zijn ze in België tijdens het ‘Bière Blanche et Musique Noire’ Festival in Gouvy (La Madelonne) opgetreden. Het nummer “Goin’ Home Train” haalde de finale van de “International Songwriting Competition” en de finale van de “International Acoustic Music Awards”. “T. Rogers” was de backing band van Mem Shannon tijdens zijn Europese tour. Bij de opnamen van “Live From Home” in 2010 vervangt de Canadees Stew Hay de eerdere mondharmonicaspeler Miki Tóth. De band is bekend voor zijn sterke live optredens.

Op hun vierde en meest recente album is hun special gast Keb’ Mo’ (artiestennaam van Kevin Moore). Hij zingt en speelt slide gitaar op de track “Angelina”. Twee nummers van het nieuwe album zijn covers van de bluesgitarist / zanger uit Mississippi Elmore James en van de componist / zanger / keyboardspeler uit NY, Kevin Moore. ”Far And Slow” opent het album. Stew Hay op mondharmonica is de sfeerbrenger en aan de zang van Ferci Kovács is zijn herkomst niet te achterhalen. ”Weary Road” klinkt voodoo en groovy door de hoge stem van Kovács met opnieuw de sterke harmonica riffs van Stew Hay. ”Gotto Go” klinkt totaal anders dan de openers en gaat meer richting Chicago blues. Kovács eerste gitaarsolo’s zijn een feit. ”Angelina” (Kevin Moore, alias Keb’ Mo’) is de eerste cover met gastoptreden van Keb’ Mo’. In zijn typische stijl doet hij op gitaar wat hij op de resophonic slide gitaar wat hij moet doen: zorgeloos zingen en hopen dat ze terug naar huis komt… ”Something Human” is de wat vreemde pop eend in deze bijt en kan ik niet direct aan een blues tak vastbinden. Na het geroezemoes gaat de swing er zonder veel complexen in met ”The Regular’s Blues”. ”Sun On My Back” is opnieuw een compositie van Ferci Kovács, de frontman. Veel slide gitaar en country rock toestanden bepalen de sfeer en gezelligheid. Het nummer ”Mood For The Day” dat de tweede cover voorafgaat is een rustig nummer, dat het vooral van het vocale moet hebben. Het leuke melodietje zal bij menig blues liefhebber niet de grote indruk maken. De Elmore James’ cover ”It Hurts Me Too (Elmore James) is de gegeerde cover op meerdere nieuwe releases van deze maand. Wat moet Elmore zich goed gevoeld moeten hebben, wetende dat hij tot in Hongarije aanhang zou hebben. De versie van “T. Rogers” is niet de gebruikelijke langzame versie, maar klinkt behoorlijk pittig en apart. Ook dit moet kunnen en maakt indruk! Met ”Sunshine Cold” gaan de deuren langzaam dicht. Eerst nog even grooven en funken en het uitzingen, om daarna met ”Simple Life” rustig te kunnen afsluiten. Deze ballade (de titelsong!) met het hart van een popsong, glijdt even snel weg als het zakken van de zon op een late zomeravond.

Met “T. Rogers” moeten we ons niet direct grote zorgen maken in het epicentrum van de blues in Hongarije. De nummers op het album “Simple Life” klinken optimistisch en zonder veel complexen. De bluesy nummers wisselen af met rock en pop nummers, maar worden soms wat te snel over dezelfde kam geschoren. Met wat meer optredens in meerdere Europese landen zal de groep hier sneller aanhang kunnen vinden, want muziek blijft een universele taal. Dat de groep over muzikale kwaliteiten bezit is opnieuw duidelijk. Nu nog hopen dat nieuwe optredens op bekende festivals niet uitblijven en dat een definitieve doorbraak snel zal volgen.

Eric Schuurmans

Line up:
Béla Baráth: drums
Stewart Harp: harmonica
Ferci Kovács: vocals, guitars
Pál Sturman: guitars
Zsolt Szatai: bass
Vince Széil: percussion, mandolin


Guest:
Keb’ Mo’: vocals & resophonic slide guitar

Discography:
2006: “Driven By The Blues”
2008: “Wear Your Soul”
2010: “Live From Home”
2013: “Simple Life” - Rootstime.be

T.ROGERS
Wear Your Soul
www.trogers.hu
T Rogers is a six piece Hungarian band producing a sound that is individual with the title of the album neatly describing the very essence of this CD, for once the title track ‘Wear Your Soul’ did not disappoint in either of its guises electric or as an acoustic track to complete this accomplished album. There is a natural organic feeling to the bands interpretation of the Blues before the songs were recorded they were bold ideas this allowed each musician space to shape and mould the songs giving the album the fluidity of an accomplished jam session. In other bands this could have led to a battle of ego’s but this is not apparent anywhere on the CD, each musician is confident in their own skills whilst sharing the delight in producing memorable music together. ‘TROGERS’ delivers blues rock without the need for long ego driven solo’s but by producing a complete sound carefully blending to ensure interesting textures of sound blues, rock and a little bit funky. Each track has its own distinctive rhythm with instruments sometimes taking the lead but never dominating as demonstrated on ‘Going’ Home Train’; the lyrics are suitably bluesy and the lasting memory of the album for me is the phrase ‘Blues is a beautiful disease’. Hopeful this band will find its way out of Hungary bringing with them an enthusiasm for the blues and the joy of producing great sound.
Liz Aiken - Blues Matters

T.ROGERS
Wear Your Soul
www.trogers.hu
T Rogers is a six piece Hungarian band producing a sound that is individual with the title of the album neatly describing the very essence of this CD, for once the title track ‘Wear Your Soul’ did not disappoint in either of its guises electric or as an acoustic track to complete this accomplished album. There is a natural organic feeling to the bands interpretation of the Blues before the songs were recorded they were bold ideas this allowed each musician space to shape and mould the songs giving the album the fluidity of an accomplished jam session. In other bands this could have led to a battle of ego’s but this is not apparent anywhere on the CD, each musician is confident in their own skills whilst sharing the delight in producing memorable music together. ‘TROGERS’ delivers blues rock without the need for long ego driven solo’s but by producing a complete sound carefully blending to ensure interesting textures of sound blues, rock and a little bit funky. Each track has its own distinctive rhythm with instruments sometimes taking the lead but never dominating as demonstrated on ‘Going’ Home Train’; the lyrics are suitably bluesy and the lasting memory of the album for me is the phrase ‘Blues is a beautiful disease’. Hopeful this band will find its way out of Hungary bringing with them an enthusiasm for the blues and the joy of producing great sound.
Liz Aiken - Blues Matters

T. Rogers - Driven By the Blues
Independent
http://www.trogers.hu

This 7-piece Hungarian blues band with a British sax player has no problems covering anything and everything from Robert Johnson to Robben Ford and doing it all in their inimitably cheerful jazzy style - yet the true crowning achievement of their debut CD is its self-penned title track, "Driven By the Blues".

But let's meet the band: the one & only Ferenc "Ferci" Kovács - vocals, guitar, graphic design, powerful folk medicines & other mojos; Pál Sturmann - guitar; Tom Quilliam - saxophone; Zsolt Szatai - bass; Miklós Tóth - harmonica, Vince Széll - percussion & Charlie Watts-size smiles; Béla Baráth - drums. Yes, I know Hungarian is supposed to be a kin language to Estonian and Finnish, but trust me - I couldn't pronounce those names either!

To start it off, I must say I'd buy the rhythm section a pint any time. Béla's jazz-tinged drumming packs enough punch to rock any audience; in combination with Zsolt's fluid bass runs and the Swiss-watch accuracy of Vince's (hey, that I could prounounce!) shakers, tambourines and other assorted weapons, this is the firm & funky foundation the music stands on.

The guitar interplay between Ferci and Pál is a pleasure to listen to: not rhythm-plus-lead, but rather two guitars as one, playing off each other just the way it oughta be done - the way it best serves the song. To quote the influences I can hear in their fretplay would take up way too much space, so let's just say there's plenty of everything from T-Bone Walker to Gary Moore.

Superimposed on top are the harmonica and the sax, both vital to the big sound T. Rogers creates, both more jazz than rock'n'roll. The tube-amplified-but-clean sound of the harp especially may take some getting used to, but Miklós obviously knows what he's doing: not every harp player would dare to cover both Charlie Musselwhite and Sonny Boy Williamson I on the same album.

For some reason, I can't help thinking 'Memphis blues' in connection with this CD, even though it's by no means an accurate description - there's traces of Texas, Chicago and many
other places in the music; yes, and of Budapest, too. Recorded live in the studio, the infectious joy of playing really shines through on every song on the album, with the improvised title track leaping highest and furthest of them all. This is good-time foot-stomping music; by all accounts, these boys will be appearing in a venue near you before you know it.

Andres Roots - Woodchuck-Guitars.com

T. Rogers - Driven By the Blues
Independent
http://www.trogers.hu

This 7-piece Hungarian blues band with a British sax player has no problems covering anything and everything from Robert Johnson to Robben Ford and doing it all in their inimitably cheerful jazzy style - yet the true crowning achievement of their debut CD is its self-penned title track, "Driven By the Blues".

But let's meet the band: the one & only Ferenc "Ferci" Kovács - vocals, guitar, graphic design, powerful folk medicines & other mojos; Pál Sturmann - guitar; Tom Quilliam - saxophone; Zsolt Szatai - bass; Miklós Tóth - harmonica, Vince Széll - percussion & Charlie Watts-size smiles; Béla Baráth - drums. Yes, I know Hungarian is supposed to be a kin language to Estonian and Finnish, but trust me - I couldn't pronounce those names either!

To start it off, I must say I'd buy the rhythm section a pint any time. Béla's jazz-tinged drumming packs enough punch to rock any audience; in combination with Zsolt's fluid bass runs and the Swiss-watch accuracy of Vince's (hey, that I could prounounce!) shakers, tambourines and other assorted weapons, this is the firm & funky foundation the music stands on.

The guitar interplay between Ferci and Pál is a pleasure to listen to: not rhythm-plus-lead, but rather two guitars as one, playing off each other just the way it oughta be done - the way it best serves the song. To quote the influences I can hear in their fretplay would take up way too much space, so let's just say there's plenty of everything from T-Bone Walker to Gary Moore.

Superimposed on top are the harmonica and the sax, both vital to the big sound T. Rogers creates, both more jazz than rock'n'roll. The tube-amplified-but-clean sound of the harp especially may take some getting used to, but Miklós obviously knows what he's doing: not every harp player would dare to cover both Charlie Musselwhite and Sonny Boy Williamson I on the same album.

For some reason, I can't help thinking 'Memphis blues' in connection with this CD, even though it's by no means an accurate description - there's traces of Texas, Chicago and many
other places in the music; yes, and of Budapest, too. Recorded live in the studio, the infectious joy of playing really shines through on every song on the album, with the improvised title track leaping highest and furthest of them all. This is good-time foot-stomping music; by all accounts, these boys will be appearing in a venue near you before you know it.

Andres Roots - Woodchuck-Guitars.com

T. Rogers
Driven By The Blues
Selfproduced
2005
(56’07")
T. Rogers isn’t a bandleader’s name, but this hungarian group’s instead, which is comprised of 7 members : Béla Baráth
on drums, Zsolt Szatai on bass, Vince Széll on percussions, Tom Quilliam on saxophone, Miklós Tóth on harmonica,
Pál Sturmann on guitar and Ferenc Kovács on guitar and vocals. Their music? Somehow classical electric blues, and
yet... This is not your CD that you heard a thousand times by switchable bands. Not at all. What makes it special?
First the obvious pleasure they’re having, but also top notch musicians, tight as can be, with a devastating swing, and
most of all that communicative joy one doesn’t hear that often in this musical genre. This is most obvious on Charlie
Musselwhite’s Make Me Getaway that starts the album, and totally enthusiastic on Driven By The Blues, only original
by T.Rogers/ Ferenc Kovács, that ends it. According to "Ferci" Kovács, this number started as a jam in the studio. But
it came out so well that the boys decided to keep it and add it to the CD. And right they were : it’s pure pleasure to the
listener. But make your own opinion by paying their website a visit at www.trogers.hu : 8 songs can be heard entirely,
including this infectious Driven By The Blues, so happy it’d fill a death-watch with joy. And if you find the experience
convincing, you’ll be able to order the album for a mere 10 euros from the same website.
René Malines (Virus de Blues, fanzine militant, n° 7, printemps 2006) - Virus de Blues, fanzine

T. Rogers
Driven By The Blues
Selfproduced
2005
(56’07")
T. Rogers isn’t a bandleader’s name, but this hungarian group’s instead, which is comprised of 7 members : Béla Baráth
on drums, Zsolt Szatai on bass, Vince Széll on percussions, Tom Quilliam on saxophone, Miklós Tóth on harmonica,
Pál Sturmann on guitar and Ferenc Kovács on guitar and vocals. Their music? Somehow classical electric blues, and
yet... This is not your CD that you heard a thousand times by switchable bands. Not at all. What makes it special?
First the obvious pleasure they’re having, but also top notch musicians, tight as can be, with a devastating swing, and
most of all that communicative joy one doesn’t hear that often in this musical genre. This is most obvious on Charlie
Musselwhite’s Make Me Getaway that starts the album, and totally enthusiastic on Driven By The Blues, only original
by T.Rogers/ Ferenc Kovács, that ends it. According to "Ferci" Kovács, this number started as a jam in the studio. But
it came out so well that the boys decided to keep it and add it to the CD. And right they were : it’s pure pleasure to the
listener. But make your own opinion by paying their website a visit at www.trogers.hu : 8 songs can be heard entirely,
including this infectious Driven By The Blues, so happy it’d fill a death-watch with joy. And if you find the experience
convincing, you’ll be able to order the album for a mere 10 euros from the same website.
René Malines (Virus de Blues, fanzine militant, n° 7, printemps 2006) - Virus de Blues, fanzine

Wear Your Soul
Autoproduction
2007
(79'57")

Back to Eastern Europe with Hungarians T.Rogers 2nd album. From the very
first bars, one understand why they have been called a "Joy & Blues
Band". For if their approach is often of the blues-rock kind, Ferenc
Kovacs and his septet's music is quite different from way too many bands
in that named style for instead of standing like showoff's with no other
purpose than to display their velocity, it is totally dedicated to
pleasure celebration. Pleasure to play, to share, to seduce and to have
fun together with each bandmate as well as with the audience. All of
them very good musicians, indeed our 7 guys know how to make jump out of
your seat and dance as soon as a few notes only are played. Some rock,
some funk, a lot of blues, solid arrangements despite the jam band like
feel, and, again, a highly contagious real joy. One can only enjoy the
fact they were signed by BlueBridge Networks, hoping that Georges and
Ray, BB N agents, finds them gigs somewhere close enough to us. Some of
us could enjoy them 2 years ago during the Luxemburg Blues & Jazz Rally
when they actually arrived directly from Hungary after driving long
hours in an old bus without a chance to rest or eat before their gig.
This CD lets us imagine what it must be like to witness them take over a
stage after a good meal and enough rest. Hoping such an event happens
soon, their two albums can still be enjoyed in the meanwhile, knowing
that Wear Your Soul has nothing to be ashamed of compared to Driven By
The Blues, their previous and 1st album that had us find out about them.
Two CD's anti spleen guaranted.

René Malines
Virus de Blues - Virus de Blues

Wear Your Soul
Autoproduction
2007
(79'57")

Back to Eastern Europe with Hungarians T.Rogers 2nd album. From the very
first bars, one understand why they have been called a "Joy & Blues
Band". For if their approach is often of the blues-rock kind, Ferenc
Kovacs and his septet's music is quite different from way too many bands
in that named style for instead of standing like showoff's with no other
purpose than to display their velocity, it is totally dedicated to
pleasure celebration. Pleasure to play, to share, to seduce and to have
fun together with each bandmate as well as with the audience. All of
them very good musicians, indeed our 7 guys know how to make jump out of
your seat and dance as soon as a few notes only are played. Some rock,
some funk, a lot of blues, solid arrangements despite the jam band like
feel, and, again, a highly contagious real joy. One can only enjoy the
fact they were signed by BlueBridge Networks, hoping that Georges and
Ray, BB N agents, finds them gigs somewhere close enough to us. Some of
us could enjoy them 2 years ago during the Luxemburg Blues & Jazz Rally
when they actually arrived directly from Hungary after driving long
hours in an old bus without a chance to rest or eat before their gig.
This CD lets us imagine what it must be like to witness them take over a
stage after a good meal and enough rest. Hoping such an event happens
soon, their two albums can still be enjoyed in the meanwhile, knowing
that Wear Your Soul has nothing to be ashamed of compared to Driven By
The Blues, their previous and 1st album that had us find out about them.
Two CD's anti spleen guaranted.

René Malines
Virus de Blues - Virus de Blues

"The Hungarian machine T. Rogers is still very redoubtable, this live recording still proves it more surely than the studio recordings. Blues rock with a complete band (rhythm section, two guitars, harp, saxophone, percussions), transfigured covers (Sonny Boy n=B0 1, Otis Rush), the link with the real blues is indeed overstretched, but it's compensated with a bursting energy and a capacity to multiply the long tracks without any boredom.
What a kick !"

- Soul Bag France

"The Hungarian machine T. Rogers is still very redoubtable, this live recording still proves it more surely than the studio recordings. Blues rock with a complete band (rhythm section, two guitars, harp, saxophone, percussions), transfigured covers (Sonny Boy n=B0 1, Otis Rush), the link with the real blues is indeed overstretched, but it's compensated with a bursting energy and a capacity to multiply the long tracks without any boredom.
What a kick !"

- Soul Bag France