While gearing up to move back to his London roots after ten years living in NY, pianist, vocalist, songwriter and producer Oli Rockberger decided to assemble some of his favorite musicians to join him on a new recording. Sessions took place amidst flights to and from the UK in the final stretch of his time as a full-time New Yorker. It was through the sweat of packing boxes and amidst the uncertainty and excitement of embarking on this new chapter that Sovereign was born. Oli called on some trusted alliances from his acclaimed Old Habits in Jordan Perlson (drums), Jordan Scannella (bass), John Shannon (guitar) and co-producer Chris Abell, and also on some more recent ones in Ryan Scott (guitar), Owen Biddle (bass), Zach Danziger (drums/programming/additional prod) and Hannah Read (background vocals) – his NY musical family. And so Oli now brings brings Sovereign in to his London musical family, with the album coming out on leading UK based indie label Whirlwind Recordings (Oct 20th), and joined by a stellar London band for his Oct UK release tour. While in NY, Oli shared studios and stages with acclaimed singer-songwriters Carly Simon, Jesse Harris, John Mayer and Levon Helm, and with iconic Jazz/Soul/R&B instrumentalists Steve Gadd, Randy Brecker, Will Lee, Chris Daddy Dave and Nathan East. Now based in London, Oli continues to work internationally as an in-demand recording/touring sideman & songwriter, as a member of prodigious songstress Laura Mvula's touring band, with other recent collaborations including Becca Stevens, Richard Spaven & Jordan Rakei, Fridolijn and Louis Cole. Ask Oli what comes to mind when listening to his latest creation Sovereign, and you may be waiting a while, for he'll be right back at Rockwood Music Hall in the Lower East Side, standing by the bar, with a whiskey in his hand....
Oli graduated Berklee College of Music with a Full Tuition Scholarship, and is now an in-demand music educator with workshops/seminars to date including Steinway & Sons, Grotrian Pianos, Berklee, Tisch & ICMP. He is also a valued coach & mentor to many up and coming musicians. Catch him on his UK release tour Oct' 17, including Pizza Express Holborn Oct 19/20 London CD Release Shows, and EFG London Jazz Festival Nov 14th
FULL LIST OF UPCOMING SHOWS HERE
Upcoming selects...
>Sept 9, Bestival (UK) wi/Laura Mvula
>Sept 10, Festival No.6 (Wales) wi/Laura Mvula
>Oct 11, The Brook (So'ton) wi/Oli Rockberger SOVEREIGN
>Oct 12, Soundcellar (Poole) wi/Oli Rockberger SOVEREIGN,
FOLLOW OLI