Performer, teacher, workshop leader, clinician, composer and author, Rod Fogg excels in many different areas of the contemporary guitar scene. Described by Guitarist Magazine as "a master of expressive playing dynamics", he is active as a jazz guitarist, with his own trio; as a fingerstyle soloist, touring and leading workshops; and in the “Hot Club” scene playing the music of Django Reinhardt. Rod has won fans up and down the country with his relaxed presentation and friendly stage-show, while guitarists have benefited from his broad knowledge of a wide range of styles and his excellent communication skills.

As a child Rod Fogg spent a great deal of time listening to music of all kinds. Working his way through his parents' excellent record collection he developed a great love for bands like the Beatles and Rolling Stones, together with Tamla Motown, Soul, and even Traditional Jazz. Later, whilst enjoying rock bands like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin he also explored early R'n'B and blues, and a wide variety of Jazz artists such as Charlie Parker, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Rod describes the jazz guitarist Joe Pass as his “spiritual father”!

Rod took up the classical guitar at age 14 and bought his first electric guitar two years later; at 19 he was writing songs and playing in bands on the London circuit. After a few years recording and touring with rock and indie bands he decided to study music formally and make it a profession. He took a degree at Middlesex University and added Bass Guitar and later Double Bass to his skills. On graduation he began to develop a career as a freelance guitarist whilst teaching guitar both privately and in schools.

Gigs followed in a wide range of styles. Rod played jazz with artists such as Martin Speake, Paul Clarvis and Stuart Hall, played fingerstyle, blues and ragtime guitar as a soloist, and played Django-style with bands like "Le Jazz" and "The Morellos", whilst also doing the occasional "show" or playing at parties, weddings and corporate functions. Rod continued to write music for jazz trio and for solo guitar, and formed a trio playing gigs in the London area.

Rod and the band have now recorded the CD "A Cool Move", featuring twelve original compositions which you can hear and buy on this web. They are currently gigging and should be appearing at a festival or club near you soon!

Rod continues to teach privately and at Kingston University and South Hampstead High School, and perform up and down the country as a soloist, with his own trio, and with various artists. He has recently completed "Django Reinhardt - Know the Man, Play the Music" and "Eddie Van Halen - Know the Man, Play the Music" for Backbeat Books. He is also writing material for a solo guitar CD planned for release later this year. 

Other recent work includes playing on the CD to accompany the book "Recording Guitar and Bass", music editing on "Melody: How to Write Great Tunes" and recording music examples on the book "Play Acoustic". Another recent project for Backbeat Books was "The Totally Interactive Guitar Bible" which was published in October 2006 and which has been a huge seller. Rod has recently completed the follow-up "Band Bible" which was published in 2007 and is now working on a complete electric guitar tuition book to be entitled "The Guitar Workbook".

"Rod's fluent phrases and melodic lines have an uncanny ability to weave themselves into the "hum this" department in your brain. A master of expressive playing dynamics, Fogg's command of the instrument and ability to really hold back and use the musical space to best effect is a great lesson in subtlety."

(Guitarist Magazine)

"As an improviser, he's tasteful...."

(Jazzwise magazine)

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