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Ver satility and Talent Define Local Jazz Saxophonist SHORTCUTS MUSIC 84 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 5 W hen the subject of jazz saxophone comes up around Monterey, the first name that comes to most is Roger Eddy. He's become ubiquitous with the instrument through his tenure as a leader with The Roger Eddy Band as well as a sideman for many others. He's also played with Robben Ford, the Four Tops, Frankie Valli, Lou Rawls, Vince Gill, Huey Lewis, the White Album Ensemble and Johnny Rivers. His versatility is fur- ther demonstrated by the fact that he performed Shostakovich's "Suite for Variety Orchestra" with the Monterey County Symphony. Eddy was born in Carmel and took up the saxophone in the fourth grade. "I had a great music teacher," he recalls. "He sat me down, pulled out a bunch of instruments, played on them and then handed them to me to try. I settled on baritone sax." While working at a music store, Eddy was approached by record producer Tim Culbertson and asked if he'd be interested in learning engi- neering at the recording studio Culbertson was running. "I couldn't run out of there fast enough," he laughs. Ironically, when Eddy eventually set up his own studio, the first project he recorded was Culbertson's. "I built it strictly for my own use, but I couldn't say no to Tim," he recalls. Since then, Eddy estimates that he's recorded around 40 full albums in his converted garage. "Just about everyone in town has recorded something here," he says. With his smiling eyes, bushy mustache and towering 6' 4" frame, Roger Eddy is an instantly recognizable figure on whatever bandstand he's appearing on. The professional Monterey Peninsula musician who doesn't know Roger Eddy is a rare breed indeed. That's why so many show up to play with him at the popular jazz jams that Eddy hosts the first and third Sunday of each month at Cibo Ristorante Italiano on Alvarado Street in Monterey. He's also appearing regularly with pianist/vocalist Sonny G! at Seaside's Embassy Suites. —Michael Chatfield Musician Roger Eddy (at Franklin Street Studio) is well known on the Monterey Peninsula. The jazz saxo- phonist has played with legendary artists and performs regularly at Cibo Ristorante Italiano in Monterey. Photo: Kelli Uldall