OFF THE RECORD

Roger Townsend’s Grammy-Winning Project

By Ann Zeigler

Roger Townsend can’t really tell you which he enjoys more—his “day job” as a civil appeals attorney with 12-lawyer firm Alexander, Dubose & Townsend’s office in the Houston Heights, or his “Off the Record” gig as executive producer for jazz music.  But he confirms that no one ever got a Grammy award for a winning brief, to match the Best Latin Jazz Album Grammy awarded to Simpatico, the 2006 album on which he was the executive producer.

Appellate lawyer… Grammy-winning album…  So, what’s the story? Short answer—read your email, including Web sites for musicians you really admire. 

Roger got his first set of drums (and lessons from an excellent teacher) when he was about eight years old, and has been passionate about music, especially jazz, ever since.  He has made a point to attend jazz concerts large and small in the Houston area, and has taken the opportunity to chat with the musicians.  In 2004, he saw an email from jazz trumpeter Brian Lynch to his fans, requesting financial backing for a project idea.  Roger sent a modest donation.  A few months later there was another email to the fans for  help in finding an executive producer for the developing project idea—a tribute album to jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri. Lynch wanted to write and record an album of music reflecting Palmieri’s influence on him and other jazz musicians. 

However, a project is just an idea until someone comes up with money. Others will work on writing the music, finding musicians, scheduling studio time, doing the engineering, mixing, CD production, distribution, tour scheduling, etc.  But nothing happens without a guaranteed source of financial backing for the project—the executive producer.

Roger was at a point in his legal career that he could handle being the money man for Lynch’s project.  So, he emailed back to Lynch that he would step up as executive producer.  He heard back from Lynch after Lynch’s manager checked Roger out (and liked his firm Web site)—welcoming him to the Simpatico project. By this time Eddie Palmieri was also involved, and as the project developed, Palmieri and Lynch wrote some new music for the project. Palmieri joined in the recording sessions, along with other musicians.  Because Roger is also a musician, his friendships with the project musicians developed into additional opportunities that the executive producer usually doesn’t get—being consulted about artistic issues during the recording sessions in New York, and being involved with the mixing of the recorded tracks. 

Roger calls the award “good karma for good people, good musicians.” Does he have a photo of himself in a group of grinning guys in tuxedos with the Grammy?  Sorry, but no.  His day job sent him to Miami on awards day, and he didn’t hear about Simpatico’s big win until he saw it on TV later.  Such is the life of a man with two great passions.  And the Grammy award itself is sitting on Brian Lynch’s mantel in New York. 

Is Roger retiring from executive producing after the Big Win?  You guessed it—he’s now the executive producer on a project with musician George Brooks and the Summit Group, working on an Indian jazz fusion album. Watch for it. 

And courtesy of Roger, here’s a link to jazz trumpeter Brian Lynch’s website: http://www.brianlynchjazz.com. Enjoy.

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