Acclaimed guitarist and composer Royce Campbell has just released his new CD, Vagabond, featuring the Vosbein Magee Big Band, and I couldn’t be more impressed. The album contains ten original Campbell compositions plus a stunning version of the timeless standard, Body and Soul.
Campbell has long been a respected figure in the jazz world, having recorded with greats such as Nancy Wilson, Mel Tormé, Sarah Vaughan, Fred Hersch, and Rosemary Clooney, just to name a few. On Vagabond, however, Campbell is front and center—not just for his elegant guitar work, but also for his distinctive writing style. What strikes me most is the way he builds strong, memorable melodies that blossom into beautiful music. It’s easy to understand why Henry Mancini kept Campbell on tour for over two decades, and why Quincy Jones once remarked, “Every note Royce plays is perfect.”
The Vosbein Magee Big Band, formed in 2015, provides the perfect setting for Campbell’s work. Co-led by Terry Vosbein, the band has earned a reputation for reviving unique and under-explored jazz works, and here they bring Campbell’s originals to life with energy, clarity, and swing. This is big band tradition at its best: music that feels both fresh and familiar, accessible yet inventive.
Two tracks especially stood out to me. The title track, Vagabond, swings hard and immediately draws you in with its driving rhythm and smart arrangement. Then there’s Body and Soul, a standard we’ve all heard countless times, but here reimagined with an outstanding Carroll DeCamp arrangement. Campbell’s playing is tender yet assured, making this version one of the most compelling I’ve heard in years.
This is an album that showcases both the artistry of Royce Campbell and the vitality of the Vosbein Magee Big Band. If you’re looking for jazz that honors tradition while offering something truly fresh, Vagabond belongs on your playlist.
PLAYLIST:
1. Peepers
2. Gentle Breeze
3. A Sharp Blues
4. Body and Soul
5. Mambo Puente
6. Moon Cycle
7. Vagabond
8. Middle Ground
9. Dancing Waterfall
10. Inner Peace
11. Viper
PLAYERS:
Bill Schnepper- Alto, Soprano, Flute
Greg Moody- Alto, Clarinet, Percussion
James Cotton- Tenor, Clarinet
Kelli Birchfield- Tenor
Kyle Greaney- Bari
Matthew Billings- Piano
Bob Bowen- Upright and Electric Bass
DeWayne Peters- Drums
Chris Magee, Alec Moser, Brian Quackenbush, Kerry Moffit- Trumpet
Matt Niess, Tome Lundberg, Tom McKenzie, Tyler Bare- Trombone
Royce Campbell- Guitar and Compsitions
Terry Vosbein- Director
I have attached two songs from "Vagabond". The first is a spirited Campbell composition and the title tune, "Vagabond". The second is a beautiful sounding arrangement of "Body and Soul".
"Vagabond" "Body and Soul"
