Composer Roger Davidson has received wide acclaim for his powerfully expressive musichis mastery of form and structure and for the originality of his compositional voice.

Born in Paris in 1952 to a French mother and an American fatherDavidson moved to New York when he was one year oldstarting playing piano on his own at age fourand beginning violin lessons at age eightshowing an early love of both classical music and jazz.  His formal education includes a B.A. in German and Asian Studies from St. Olaf College (1974)a M.Mus. in Composition from Boston University (1981)and a M.Mus. in Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College (1985).  He continued his graduate studies with renowned composers David Del TrediciTheodore Antoniou and others at Boston University

After graduating from Boston University in 1980 with a Master’s Degree in CompositionDavidson enrolled in Westminster Choir College in Princeton to expand his work beyond instrumental musicreceiving a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting in 1985.  It was at Westminster that Davidson’s love and appreciation for choral music blossomedand conducting led to composing for choir – an expression of his personal mission “of creating a repertoire of music to express the unity of God and especially His unconditional love for all humanity.”  This would later lead to his coining of the term “universal sacred music”and to the creation of his catalogue of universal sacred music worksboth choral & instrumental.

Despite this new focusDavidson retained his love for jazzcoming to work with bassist David Finck and drummer Dave Ratajczak on his first studio recording Ten to Twelve  on Soundbrush Records (2006)the label Davidson founded in 2002. With Soundbrush RecordsDavidson has developed an impressive roster of hand-picked musicians from around the world and has established a broaddiverse catalogue that won the label a Latin Grammy Award.

Davidson’s sacred music recordings include choral works representing his mission of writing and performing music that builds bridges among people of all faiths and celebrates our fundamental unity: Missa Universalis (1998), One GodOne World (2004)and Universal Sacred Music for Chorus (2013) are affirmations of the transcendence that is the substance of his vision.  In 2013 he also recorded Temple of the Soul, his masterpiece solo piano recording of rhapsodies and meditationsan instrumental example of universal sacred music. 

In recent yearsDavidson became increasingly intrigued by tangoBrazilian music and klezmerall s that have served as wonderful vehicles for the breadth and depth of his emotional expression.

His tango explorations as a composer were first documented on Mango Tango (1995)a recording “featuring different kinds of tangonot just Argentine.” He has since also recorded Amor por el Tango (2002) and Pasión Por La Vida (2008)a duet with Latin Grammy™ winning Raúl Jaurenaa master of the bandoneónthe button accordion that is the quintessential instrument in tango. His On the Road of Life (2011)a collaboration with klezmer master Frank Londontook him to international festivals including the Jewish Culture Festival in KrakówPolandplaying his original compositions.

Davidson’s life-long love affair with Brazilian music has recently been enhanced by the love of his lifeNilcelia Davidsonwho continually inspires a large body of work in this genre. In addition to Rodgers in Rio (2002)a Brazilian-tinged take on Richard Rodgers’ standardsDavidson has released five recordings of entirely original compositions: Bom Dia (2007), Brazilian Love Song (2009), Journey to Rio (2012), a two-volume set recorded in Rio de Janeiroand two recordings with the harmonica player and vibraphonist Hendrick Meurkens and Roger’s New York City based band: Oraçao Para Amanhã (2017) – a live albumand Music From the Heart (2018). His publishing companyMusica Universalishas also published two volumes of Davidson’s Brazilian music in songbook format: To Brazil with Love and Saudade do Brasil.

Across all genresand regardless of which language or culturethe music of Roger Davidson is defined by his vision that “we are all one spiritual family.” 

Roger Davidson started Soundbrush Records in 1998 as a label dedicated to combining the musical and the visual arts. In 2002 it morphed into a label producing primarily jazzworld musicand music from BrazilArgentinaCubaand other countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. In keeping with its original missionhoweverSoundbrush pays special attention to the artistic quality of the cover designs. The unifying principle in all Soundbrush recordings is the positive energy exuding from every musician in every performance.

MUSIC AND SPIRITUALITY

For Roger Davidsonmusic and spirituality are inextricably linked.  For some artistsmusic is a means to spiritual enlightenment; for others spirituality is a key element of their musical purposebut for Roger Davidson the union of music and spirituality define his lifelong pursuit of humanismpeace and the illumination of a path for people to realize the fullest potential instilled in their spirits as children of God. A humanitarian in the purest sense of the wordRoger is also an ordained minister. He founded the Society for Universal Sacred Music (http://www.universalsacredmusic.org) in 2000for the purpose of promoting this messageparticularly by emphasizing the unconditional love of God for us all.

Roger Davidson founded the Society for Universal Sacred Music in 2000for the purpose of developing a repertoire of music – primarily vocal – that expresses the unconditional and eternal love of God for us alland our fundamental brotherhood and sisterhood as eternal children of God. Beyond interfaith workthis music is meant to build bridges throughout the world by singing of that which unites us the most: the Light within each of our soulsregardless of one’s circumstances in any given lifetime on Earth.  After discontinuing concertsthe Society now exists to archive and preserve the legacy of its work in universal spirituality through music.

Following thisRoger and his wifeReverend Nilcelia Davidsonfounded Lightcircle Ministries — to represent their work as ministers of universal spirituality. Their website is: www.lightcircleministries.org.

Roger Davidson lives in the New York area with his wifeReverend Nilcelia Davidson.