Barry Rogers

[dsurkin]

A question for a rainy Sunday afternoon. Around 1972, the Brecker brothers were joined by Barry Rogers in the band Dreams. The liner notes said that he had found a Wagner tuba which was his doubling instrument. I saw Dreams perform twice (they were awesome), and Rogers played trombone and an oval-shaped horn. I've listened to their two recordings a number of times, and the horn he played sounds a bit to me like a baritone rather than a Wagner tuba. I'm wondering if the horn he had was an oval baritone or if it really was a Wagner tuba.

Does anyone know? And thanks for the distraction.

[John Morgan]

Hey Dean,

Just doing a little research, here is a link to a Wikipedia page on Barry Rogers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Rogers

That page lists his instruments as a trombone and Wagner tuba. Also shows the two albums he did with Dreams in early 70's.

Here is a nice demonstration of a Wagner tuba with the Berlin Phil French horn players: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNcajRV4sfc

Maybe you can compare the demo above with the album you have for sound.

Thanks for giving me something to do!!

I see you dwell in the NYC metro area, be careful there and stay safe!!

John

[notaverygoodname]

Found it.

facebook link

Yeah, that is very much so a 4 valve rotary Baritone.

[dsurkin]

Found it.

facebook link

Yeah, that is very much so a 4 valve rotary Baritone.

Yes, a Wagner tuba has a very different flare approaching the bell. Thanks for finding that photo.

[dsurkin]

Hey Dean,

[snip]
I see you dwell in the NYC metro area, be careful there and stay safe!!

John

Thank you, John. My wife and I are working remotely from home, and we only go out to walk the dogs and once a week to the supermarket (at 7 AM, during senior hours). I try to stay optimistic by remembering that after the Spanish flu of 1918 and 1919 came the resurgence of the Roaring Twenties.

[Snorlax]

I'm pretty sure I heard that guy in NYC a few times when I lived there--he could cover up an entire band.
I was pretty connected to a Puerto Rican community in my neighborhood--they "adopted" me because my
Spanish was pretty decent and I enjoyed their company.