Charles McPherson — alto saxophone
Terell Stafford — trumpet
Randy Porter — piano
Boris Koslov — bass
Billy Drummond — drums
“Charles is the very definition of excellence in our music. He’s the definitive master of his instrument.
He plays with exceptional harmonic accuracy and sophistication. He performs free-flowing, melodic, and thematically developed solos with unbelievable fire and an unparalleled depth of soul.”
Wynton Marsalis, a long-time admirer
Charles McPherson, born in Joplin, Missouri 1939, moved to Detroit at age nine and studied with pianist Barry Harris. At nineteen, he began performing professionally and relocated to New York in 1959. A year later, he joined Charles Mingus’s band, remaining until 1972 and collaborating with notable artists like George Coleman and Lonnie Hillyer.
McPherson has toured internationally with his own groups and jazz legends including Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Lionel Hampton. He’s been featured with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and appeared in the Clint Eastwood film Bird as the alto saxophonist. He has released recordings on Prestige, Fantasy, Xanadu, Smoke Sessions, and more.
A recipient of numerous awards, including the Don Redman Lifetime Achievement Award, McPherson holds an Honorary Doctorate from California State University San Marcos. He served as Resident Composer for the San Diego Ballet, where his Jazz Dance Suites earned praise and topped readers’ polls in DownBeat and JazzTimes.
Even during the pandemic, McPherson remained active, performing virtually and teaching at institutions like Michigan State and Arizona State. His most recent recording Reverence, a tribute to Barry Harris, showcases his quintet’s strength and artistry.
A celebrated educator, McPherson has mentored students who now lead jazz programs and have earned major scholarships. He’s currently the subject of an upcoming memoir and was the focus of a doctoral dissertation on his saxophone style. As Wynton Marsalis says, “Charles is the very definition of excellence in our music.”
If the total amount of beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum, a $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set.
Important Notices:
If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund.
Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance.
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