Roger Pondel

Since: 2026 | Position: Contributor | Reviews Albums | Location: Los Angeles | Page Views: 152

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About Me

A lifelong writer with a jazz-soaked soul, believing in the power of words and the euphoria of a great improvisational riff.

Roger Pondel's professional career spans 40+ years, first as a journalist, and then a public relations advisor - message maker, writer and editor - for CEOs and management teams of major corporations in multiple industries. He grew up tangentially in the jazz world, and today, in a career transition, he's making a pivot. Roger discovered jazz in high school when his friends were listening to rock and roll. At age 16, he taught beginning guitar to his younger brother, John, who by age 20, was the first-call guitarist for the Grammy winning Gerald Wilson Orchestra playing, alongside such legendary musicians as Harold Land, Snooky Young and Marshal Royal. He has since recorded with, or accompanied live, such greats as Bob James, Barry Manilow, Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Gerry Mulligan, Rick Braun, Carmen McRae, Dave Koz, Art Pepper, Dave Binney, Randy Brecker, and many more. Roger mothballed his own guitar when he went off to college to study journalism, but he never stopped his enthusiasm for the genre. Following his first trip to Cuba in the early 2000s, he began studying Latin percussion and hasn't stopped trying to perfect tumbao and make his slaps as crisp as can be, while today, he transitions to apply his writing and photojournalism expertise to jazz.

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My Jazz Story

I was first exposed to jazz in high school and immediately fell in love. I saved my paper route money to afford the cover charges at Dante's in North Hollywood, where I saw Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, Charles Mingus and other greats, and at Shelly's Mann Hole, watching drummer Shelly Mann. Jazz was the only genera I listened to, despite having an uncle in San Francisco who promoted rock and roll greats such as The Grateful Dead, the Doors and many other legendary groups.

My House Concert Story

I have attended many jazz house concerts, but the one that stands out the most was in the backyard of Trombone Shorty in New Orleans. We have a mutual friend, and my friend said, "We are going to a party at a jazz artist's house, and he will be playing for all of us in his backyard." I asked him whose house, and he did not tell me. As soon as we got there, I knew and was astounded.