Roger Humphries

Born: January 30, 1944

Roger Humphries is an American jazz drummer.

Born into a family of ten children in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Humphries began playing drums at age four, and went professional at age 14. He led an ensemble at Carnegie Hall at age 16. Early in the 1960s, he began touring with jazz musicians; one of his more prominent gigs was in a trio with Stanley Turrentine and Shirley Scott in 1962. In 1964, he worked with Horace Silver, appearing on the album Song for My Father, where he played on four tracks, including the title tune. (On the same album Roy Brooks played on two tracks from a session recorded a year earlier). Following this Humphries drummed for Ray Charles.

Blue Skies (Ira Sullivan Presents the Jim Holman Trio)

By Jim Holman

Label: Delmark Records
Released: 2013
Track listing: Blue Skies; Just Friends; Solar; Blue in Green; Someday My Prince Will Come; Along Come Betty; Just in Time; On the Sunny Side of the Street.

Jazz Across The Generations: The Marel Hidalgo Organ Trio Featuring Roger Humphries And Leonieke Scheuble at Clements Place Jazz on August 15, 2025

July 21, 2025

Step into a night of soulful swing and timeless artistry as the Marel Hidalgo Organ Trio commands the stage at Clements Place Jazz, one of the area's most beloved intimate venues. This powerful performance showcases three exceptional musicians spanning generations, delivering a concert that is both historical and fresh Leading the ensemble is 16-year-old Marel Hidalgo, ...

Trombonist And Educator Emmett Goods Unleashes Debut Release 'Another Level'

July 7, 2023

Dr. Emmett Goods is a trombonist and Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Rhode Island. He has been performing for over 25 years. As a performer Emmett has shared the stage with a wide variety of artists crossing over multiple genres. In the jazz arena he has shared the ...

Force of Nature

By Deanna Witkowski

Label: MCG Jazz
Released: 2022
Track listing: Gjon Mill Jam Session; Aries; Taurus; Cancer / Act of Contrition; Lonely Moments; What's Your Story, Morning Glory? / Ghost of Love; Force of Mature; Intermission; Dirge Blues; Carcinoma; Stompin' at the Savoy; My Blue Heaven.

Live New York Revisited

By Horace Silver

Label: Ezz-thetics
Released: 2022
Track listing: Song For My Father; African Queen; The Natives Are Restless Tonight; Que Pasa; African Queen; Tokyo Blues; Se?or Blues.

2022: The Year in Jazz

by Ken Franckling
December 29, 2022

Current events impacted the jazz world in significant ways throughout 2022. In its third year, the coronavirus pandemic continued to lurk in some settings, while others recovered in robust fashion. Russia's war on Ukraine was felt by musicians and triggered an outpouring of support for its victims. Initiatives to ensure greater equity in jazz advanced. The ...

Horace Silver: His Only Mistake Was To Smile

by Chris May
August 29, 2022

In his sleeve note for the audio restored Horace Silver album Live New York Revisited (ezz-thetics, 2022), British writer Brian Morton cut to the chase. “[Silver]'s only mistake," he wrote, “was to smile while he was playing... a challenge to the notion that jazz should be deadly serious and played with a pained rictus."

Horace Silver Quintet: Live New York Revisited

by Chris May
August 15, 2022

This fabulous album, recorded during three New York club engagements in 1964, 1965 and 1966, ranks among the finest in the pianist/composer's illustrious catalogue. There are several things going for it: the quality and shared intentionality of the two, slightly different, lineups; the choice of material and its careful sequencing; the vibrancy of the performances, which ...

Deanna Witkowski: Force of Nature

by Jerome Wilson
April 23, 2022

Pianist Deanna Witkowski has been studying the life and work of pianist and composer Mary Lou Williams for twenty years. This has resulted in her writing a biography of the artist, Mary Lou Williams; Music For The Soul (Liturgical Press, 2021) and making this companion album of her interpretations of Williams' music. Working in ...