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Charles McPherson / Tom Harrell Quintet Featuring Jimmy Cobb, July 10-15 at Dizzy's |
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Written by Ronaldo Oregano
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Saturday, 30 June 2007 |
 Charmin McPherson © Andrea Canter
Charles McPherson was born in Joplin, Missouri and moved to Detroit at age nine. After growing up in Detroit, he studied with the renowned pianist Barry Harris and started playing jazz professionally at age 19. He moved from Detroit to New York in 1959 and toured with Charles Mingus from 1960 to 1972. While performing with Mingus, he collaborated frequently with Harris, Lonnie Hillyer (trumpet), and George Coleman (tenor sax). McPherson has recorded as guest artist with Charlie Mingus, Barry Harris, Art Farmer, Kenny Drew, Toshiko Akiyoshi, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. He has recorded as leader on Prestige, Fantasy, Mainstream, Discovery, Xanadu, and most recently Arabesque. His most recent recording is the highly acclaimed "Manhattan Nocturne". Charles was also the featured alto saxophonist in the Clint Eastwood film "Bird," a biography about Charlie Parker.
Charles McPherson remains a strong, viable force on the jazz scene today. He is at the height of his powers. His playing combines passionate feeling with intricate patterns of improvisation. Throughout his four decades of being an integral performer of the music, Charles has not merely remained true to his BOP origins, but has expanded on them. Stanley Crouch says in his New York Times article on Charles. "He is a singular voice who has never sacrificed the fluidity of his melody making, and is held in high esteem by musicians both long seasoned and young."
"Life is so intriguing because there is constant change. There's a certain shading for every moment. That's what we do when we play. We express our feelings through the textures and colors of the sensual material world and then transcend that into the spiritual realm." - Tom Harrell
 Tom Harrel © Howard A. Gitelson
Tom Harrell is a highly skilled trumpeter and composer with a genius IQ. That genius shines both in his compositions and his playing. He is a brilliant improviser with a clear and precise tone, a singular talent and unique voice in jazz today. He has been selected as trumpet player of the year by Downbeat magazine three times. Despite his struggle with schizophrenia, a disorder he was diagnosed with in his twenties, Harrell has amazing creative output, working on diverse musical projects and collaborations.
Tom Harrell was on born June 16th, 1946 in Urbana, Illinois. His family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area when he was five. Tom first picked up the trumpet when he was eight and when he was barely a teenager he began jamming locally with professional bands. After playing with the Jazz Workshop in the late 60s, Harrell toured with the Stan Kenton and Woody Herman bands. Tom worked several years with Horace Silver during the 70s, then he moved to New York, where he performed with the Mel Lewis Village Vanguard big band, Bill Evans and Lee Konitz, Azteca, and many others. During the 80s Phil Woods expanded his quartet to a quintet in order to include Harrell. He has also recorded several sessions as a leader, with a major label recording contract exposing his compositional skills to a wider audience. Harrell’s 1999 release, Time’s Mirror, won a Grammy nomination and his 1998 Latin CD, The Art of Rhythm, was named the Best Jazz Album of the Year (2000) by Entertainment Weekly.
 Jimmy Cobb
The Miles recordings and live performances are not the only high points of Jimmy's quiet, but truly outstanding career. Jimmy did his first recording with Earl Bostic. Known from an early age as a great accompanist, Jimmy played extensively with Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderly, before joining Miles in 1957. Tony Williams took over the Miles drum chair in 1963 and Jimmy left Miles to continue to work with Miles' rhythm section, Winton Kelly and Paul Chambers behind Wes Montgomery. In addition to several Winton Kelly Trio Albums, the three did albums with Kenny Burrell, and J.J. Johnson, among others, before disbanding in the late 60's. Mr. Cobb then worked with Sarah Vaughn for 9 years. Jimmy then continued to freelance with several great groups throughout the 70's 80's and 90's including, Sonny Stitt, Nat Adderly, Ricky Ford, Hank Jones, Ron Carter, George Coleman, Fathead Newman, The Great Jazz Trio, Dave Holland and Warren Bernhardt, and many, many others worldwide.
 Ronnie Matthews
Ray Drummond worked with Bobby Hutcherson starting in the 70's (that collaboration continues to this day) also Michael White, Ed Kelly, Tom Harrell, and Eddie Marshall. In 1977, he left the corporate life behind in California, and moved to New York City where he landed gigs with artists including Betty Carter, The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, Woody Shaw, Hank Jones, Jon Faddis, Milt Jackson, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Barron, Pharoah Sanders, and George Coleman. Additionally, he has been documented on over 300 recordings with artists including Art Framer, David Murray, Houston Person, Stan Getz, Kenny Burrell, Kevin Mahogany, Toots Thielemans, Benny Golson, and Ray Bryant.
Hear this great band of jazz giants perform at Dizzy's, Tuesday-Sunday, July 10-15, with sets 7:30 & 9:30pm with an additional set at 11:30pm on Friday and Saturday.
Dizzy's is located at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center Broadway at 60th Street, on the 5th Floor. For Reservations Call: 212 258-9595 or -9795. Seating is available on a first-come first-served basis either at tables or at the bar. For more information, visit: www.jalc.org/dccc
Jazz at Lincoln Center is a not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to jazz. With the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra and a comprehensive array of guest artists, Jazz at Lincoln Center advances a unique vision for the continued development of the art of jazz by producing a year-round schedule of performance, education and broadcast events for audiences of all ages. |
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 Saturday, 11 October 2008
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