Jazz Articles about Charles McPherson

January 2018: Charles McPherson, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker

by Patrick Burnette
February 2, 2018

January opens with an interview with alto saxophonist, composer, and philosopher Charles McPherson and closes with Pat hosting a one-man show on Duke Ellington's suites. Episode 132 features a hundred-minute talk with alto saxophonist Charles McPherson, who discusses a formative encounter with Charlie Parker, his time playing in Charles Mingus' band, the lessons he learned from pianist Barry Harris, and his own solo career. Charles has led a fascinating life as a jazz musician and offers a unique ...

Tornano i tesori della Xanadu

by Angelo Leonardi
January 23, 2017

Proseguono le riedizioni dei dischi della Xanadu grazie all'accordo tra Zev Feldman e Jordi Soley di Elemental Music e la società The Orchard, attuale proprietaria dell'etichetta fondata da Don Schlitten. Dopo un primo assaggio di sei dischi uscito qualche mese fa, il nuovo capitolo della Master Edition Series è corposo e ci dà l'occasione per rievocare quelle magiche session e l'attività del suo fondatore. In questa prima parte abbiamo raggruppato otto pregevoli album di sassofonisti, nella seconda ci ...

Charles McPherson: The Journey

by Edward Blanco
March 4, 2015

One of the original bebop artists of our time, alto saxophonist Charles McPherson adds to his legacy and marches through a selection of timely bop-infused material on The Journey, demonstrating his mastery of the idiom by transforming jazz classics into fresh-sounding bop tunes with a blend of originals rolled into one exciting package. Long associated with Charles Mingus--a twelve-year collaboration--McPherson has been in the public eye since the early 1960s and was the central figure in providing the sound track ...

Charles McPherson: The Journey

by Robert Bush
February 17, 2015

Alto saxophone legend Charles McPherson has few living peers, but even at the age of 75, he shows no signs of slowing down, a premise well documented with the release of The Journey, his latest recording on the Capri label. Blistering post-bop remains McPherson's signature, but there is also a modernist streak that ripples through his improvising on this disc that can only be heard in terms of things that tingle the spine. On The Journey ...

Charles McPherson: Keeping the Faith

by Maxwell Chandler
December 12, 2007

Having started his professional career at the age of nineteen, alto saxophonist Charles McPherson found himself working with Charles Mingus from 1960 to 1972, while also recording for the Prestige label under his own name.Always inspired by Charlie Parker, but far more than just an acolyte, he has kept the bop fires blazing with his own distinctive sound and a body of work which is as impressive as it is enjoyable.McPherson took time during his Fall ...

Charles McPherson: Passionate Bopper

by Ken Dryden
July 17, 2007

Charles McPherson, one of many artists inspired by Charlie Parker, has been a professional jazz musician for nearly a half-century. Growing up in Detroit, he played in his school band and studied with pianist Barry Harris. Soon after he left for New York City, McPherson joined Charles Mingus' band and recorded with the bassist on numerous occasions between 1960 and 1974. In addition to recording with Barry Harris, Art Farmer, Lionel Hampton and Charles Tolliver, among others, the alto saxophonist ...

Charles McPherson: Live at the Cellar

by AAJ Staff
July 25, 2004

Live at the Cellar is a sizzling collection of extended improvisations featuring a Vancouver-made quartet: Charles McPherson (alto sax), Ross Taggart (piano), Jodi Proznick (bass) and Blaine Wikjord (drums). McPherson and band fashion their work for the literati.

McPherson opens hard with Rodgers and Hart's “Spring Is Here." The native of Joplin, Miss. singes the ears with intense improvisation for five minutes, then hands it over for very compelling interplay between Taggart and Proznick before the tune eventually dissipates on ...