Charles McPherson (musician)

Charles McPherson ( born July 24, 1939 in Joplin, Missouri) is an American jazz musician (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute).

Life and work

McPherson grew up in Detroit. He started at the school on the flugelhorn (because no other instrument was available ). At age 13, he switched to the alto saxophone and got a little later lessons in harmony by Barry Harris, in whose band he also played. After studying at the Larry Teal School of Music McPherson moved in 1959 to New York City, where he met Harris and also dating Detroit trumpeter Lonnie Hillyer again. With Hillyer he joined in 1960 to Charles Mingus. With interruptions, he played until 1972 in the band of Mingus toured with him through Europe, playing at the Berlin Jazz Festival and participated in the recording of several albums in part (including Mingus ( Candid ), Town Hall Concert, Monterey Festival, Let My Children Hear Music and the concert Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert 1972).

In addition, he has performed with Harris on, played for Art Farmer, Bobby Jones and Lionel Hampton and 1964 could upload his own first record. In 1967 he won the Down Beat poll for saxophonists who deserve more attention. After further plates, he played at the Newport Jazz Festival and again in 1974 joined with Mingus at Carnegie Hall, at the big-band production Me, Myself An Eye (1978 ), he was also involved. In 1976 he played at Ronnie Scott 's in London. In the next few years he appeared with Dexter Gordon and Howard McGhee, but also with Nat Adderley, Charlie Shoemake Toshiko Akiyoshi or with and turned to the Neobop. In 2012, he leads a quintet with Tom Harrell common.

Since 1978 he has taught at the University in San Diego, but resigned to continue; his son, drummer Chuck McPherson, became a member of his quartet. In Clint Eastwood's film Bird, he played those ensemble and solo parts of Charlie Parker, for that has not resorted to original recordings of Parker. McPherson continued to take plates on under his own name. In 2002, he played in the production of "Scenes in the City - The Music of Charles Mingus " as soloist with the Jazz Orchestra of Lincoln Center.