Rogê Explores Classic Brazilian Music Through Fresh Lens On Debut LP Curyman Out Today (Diamond West Records)
“Modern Brazilian Masterpiece” (Gilles Peterson) Produced By Thomas Brenneck (Menahan Street Band, Sharon Jones, Mark Ronson, Yebba, Amy Winehouse, Jay-Z Beyonce)
Featuring String Arrangements By Arthur Verocai Recorded at Cia Dos Técnicos in Brazil
“Rogê is the artist taking classic Brazilian music into the future” – MOJO
Rogê has released his new album Curyman, deemed a “modern Brazilian masterpiece” by Gilles Peterson and the artist taking classic Brazilian music into the future” by MOJO with a four star review and four page issue in the latest feature. The LA Times profiled Rogê in anticipation of the album, while WNYC highlighted Rogê’s guitar and songwriting prowess on a recent Soundcheck Session — coverage from Wax Poetics, Aquarium Drunkard, NPR All Things Considered, FLOOD and more are forthcoming. Rogê just completed a run of Brazil tour dates opening for new collaborator Jack Johnson, and he has 7 performances between March 14-18 in Austin at SXSW, followed by Tree Fort Fest in Boise later this month
Beaming a beloved musical style through a prism of orchestration and the sun-kissed joy of West Coast living, Curyman’s new take on samba funk celebrates the history of the genre while delivering a fresh, vibrant new sound thanks to an ace group of collaborators.
Listen to Curyman here: https://diamondwest.lnk.to/curyman
Curyman was created with Thomas Brenneck — of Menahan Street Band fame and the go-to producer for Mark Ronson, Jay-Z, Yebba, Sharon Jones, Beyonce and many more. Floored by Rogê’s charisma and the emotion that pours out of his songs and guitar playing, Brenneck demoed almost an album’s worth of songs with Roge the very first night they met.
After finalizing the tracks with Brenneck and ace musicians including BadBadNotGood’s Chester Hansen on bass, whistler Molly Lewis, and keyboardist Victor Axelrod, the duo flew to Rio for string sessions with Arthur Verocai — the legendary Brazilian composer, arranger, and cult hero sampled by MF Doom, Madlib, Ludacris, and more.
Through tears of sheer amazement, Brenneck and Rogê watched their album expand into a fully realized vision right in front of their eyes as Verocai added an abundance of textural excursions and compositional flourishes to Rogê’s ever-sunny samba funk.
Curyman is the debut LP on Diamond West Records, based in Pasadena, CA, which is being distributed by Secretly Distribution. Previous singles included the cinematic strings of “Mistério da Raça”, “Existe Uma Voz”, a swanky ode to the self, tinged with psychedelic flourishes and worldly wisdom, as well as “Pra Vida”, which was described by KUTX as “channeling Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 with sandy acoustic guitar and breezy group vocals… an experience that’ll have you reinvesting in the magic of life.”
Curyman Tracklist:
Rogê Tour
3/04 – Brouwerij West‘s 7yr anniversary – Long Beach, CA
CURYMAN AT SXSW 2023
3/14 – 9pm – Let’s Gig Brazil at Speakeasy
3/15 – 4pm – at SOHO Austin
3/16 – 6pm at Goorin Bros
3/16 – 8pm – Secretly Distribution’s 25th Anniversary at Central Presbyterian Church
3/17 – 9:15 pm – Space Agency Showcase at Hotel Vegas
3/18 – 4:45 pm – SouthAmericano Showcase at Sahara Lounge set
3/18 – 7 pm – Aquarium Drunkard at Lolo Wines
3/22 – Treefort Fest – Boise, ID
3/23 – Treefort Fest – Boise, ID