Vagabond

Perform the music from this CD. Purchase charts here.

SAXOPHONE
Bill Schnepper – alto, soprano, flute
Greg Moody – alto, clarinet, percussion
James Cotton – tenor, clarinet
Kelli Birchfield – tenor
Kyle Greaney – bari

TRUMPET
Chris Magee
Alec Moser
Brian Quakenbush
Kerry Moffit

TROMBONE
Matt Niess
Tom Lundberg
Tom McKenzie
Tyler Bare – bass

RHYTHM
Matthew Billings – piano
Bob Bowen – upright & electric bass
DeWayne Peters – drums

GUITAR
Royce Campbell

DIRECTOR
Terry Vosbein

Produced by Terry Vosbein
Co-produced by Royce Campbell
Live sound by John Taylor
Recording, mixing and mastering by Graham Spice
Photos by Patrick Hinely, Work/Play®

World-renowned jazz guitarist Royce Campbell takes center stage on Vagabond, the electrifying new release featuring the Vosbein Magee Big Band—the finest big band in the Shenandoah Valley. Known for his smooth, expressive phrasing and masterful technique, Campbell spent two decades touring with Henry Mancini, and his deep-rooted jazz sensibility shines through on every track of this concert recording. As Quincy Jones once said “every note Royce plays is perfect.”

Vagabond showcases ten original compositions by Campbell, alongside the jazz classic Body and Soul, all brought to life with dynamic big band arrangements by legendary jazz arranger Carroll DeCamp—who also happens to be Campbell’s uncle. Remarkably, all but one of these arrangements are being played for the first time. The result is a seamless blend of tradition and innovation, where Campbell’s fluid guitar work meets the power and precision of a top-tier big band.

Formed in 2015, the Vosbein Magee Big Band has built a reputation for performing music that isn’t heard elsewhere. With a commitment to bringing unique and underexplored jazz works to life, the ensemble blends deep musicality with an adventurous spirit. Their collaboration with Campbell on Vagabond is yet another example of their dedication to innovation while honoring the big band tradition.

From the title track’s adventurous spirit to the lush harmonies and swinging rhythms that define the album, Vagabond is a testament to Campbell’s artistry and the collective energy of this stellar ensemble. Whether it’s hard-swinging charts or intimate ballads, this album is a must-hear for jazz lovers everywhere.

This album is a live recording of a concert at Washington and Lee University featuring my compositions arranged by my uncle, Carroll DeCamp, and beautifully performed by the Vosbein Magee Big Band under the leadership of Terry Vosbein.

I’m proud of the fact that my uncle was a world-class musician, composer and arranger having over 100 published arrangements plus arranging for a number of name big bands such as Larry Elgart and Stan Kenton. He even was such a great pianist that he worked with jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery, generally considered the greatest jazz guitarist ever.

After I graduated from high school in 1970, I moved in with my uncleafter he offered to help me get started realizing my dream of becoming a professional musician. The way I put it: I went to the “College of Carroll DeCamp.”

Even though there were no formal courses offered by that college, the education I received in the form of advice and encouragement was invaluable. Carroll stressed how essential the ability to read music, any kind of music, is to being versatile and getting gigs. As a result, I did get some great gigs such as touring with R&B legend Marvin Gaye and becoming movie composer Henry Mancini’s touring guitarist for 19 years.

He also taught me much about the relationship of melody to harmony and encouraged my interest in composing. Once I started writing songs, I realized how much joy I could experience hearing my compositions performed and performed well. Having composed over 1,000 songs over five decades, the joy and excitement I feel when they are brought to life is still unchanged.

The story behind how this concert came about is truly worth telling. I knew my uncle had done a few arrangements of my songs, but I thought it was only a couple, maybe three. I decided I would take a look at the charts. I knew they were in a filing cabinet in my basement and had been there for decades. When I went through the music I was shocked and amazed that instead of the expected two or three charts, I found 10; he had written arrangements on 10 of my songs! These arrangements would have been written in the 1970’s. Yes, that long ago, and I had no idea he had done that much.

I realized that I had enough quality arrangements for an entire concert and told my friend, bassist Bob Bowen, about my discovery and the idea for a concert. He suggested it to Terry Vosbein, composer-arranger, and co-leader of the Vosbein Magee Big Band, the premier big band in the area.

Already a fan of my uncle’s arranging, Terry agreed that the material was indeed worth performing and quickly made things happen. The combination of my songs, my uncle’s arrangements, and this great big band was a match made in heaven, and, fortunately the concert was captured on audio and video for posterity.

I’ll always be indebted to Terry and the entire band for one of the greatest musical experiences of my life. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did and still do.

— Royce Campbell
Massanutten, Virginia