TOM ROGER (BalconyTV)

BALCONYTV.COM 3/04/2007
PRESENTED BY TOM MILLETT
Born and raised 'North of Europe', as one author has infamously stated, Tom Roger picked up on the magic of music at an early age. His artistic grandmother taught him the first guitar chords and sentimental ballads about gypsies and unrequited love.
His musical path would encompass classical guitar studies, with frequent forays into rock and pop. He took up composing and would soon write for the theatre, conducting his orchestral music for internationally renowned stage director Daniel Bohr. It has now come together in some uniquely written songs.
Even before its release, 'Obviously Embraced' has been described as a landmark album. Producer and pianist Brian Connor (Van Morrison, Riverdance) called on respected friends for the studio sessions: Drummer Robbie Casserly (Elvis Costello, Mark Knopfler), bass player Nick Scott (Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor) and guitarist Albert Niland (Riverdance, solo albums).
Recorded mainly live in studio, 'Obviously Embraced' has kept the emotive edge of the moment. After hearing the sessions, one of Ireland's top engineers, Alastair McMillan (Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, U2), volunteered to mix the album, later to be mastered by legendary Greg Calbi (Bob Dylan, Norah Jones) at Sterling Sound, New York.
'First I lived the songs, then I wrote them, after that I had to learn how to sing them', is Tom Roger's own description of the process of making 'Obviously Embraced'. The album's songs testify to a songwriter who has been described as being 'blessed with the rare ability to make the personal universal'.

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