The fluent bebop master, alto saxophonist and composer Charles McPherson whose live performances should be mandatory for any real jazz enthusiast will celebrate his 85th birthday at Dizzy’s Club (60th Street and Broadway) on July 18-21 with shows each night.
For six decades, McPherson has effortlessly emerged his keen bebop fire into ever-expanding boundless explorations from standards to ballads and up-tempo tunes. The inventive improvisationalist will be joined by his longtime intuitive music makers: trumpeter Terell Stafford, pianist Jeb Patton, bassist David Wong, and drummer Billy Drummond.
McPherson will share original gems that paved his celebrated music calling and selections from his recent live release “Reverence” (Smoke Sessions Records 2024). The album pays tribute to the bebop piano minister Barry Harris, who was his mentor. Only the last track, “Ode to Barry,” actually gives a nod to his mentor with three originals and bluesy renditions of the standards “Come Rain or Shine” and “Old Folks.” “I owe a lot to him,” said McPherson. “He always told me that there was more to this music than just playing the horn. You actually have to know how to think to be able to do this well.” The iconic pianist appeared on McPherson’s debut album “Bebop Revisited!” (Prestige 1965). The saxophonist toured and recorded (four albums) with Harris intermittently from 1961-1980.
Born July 24, 1939, McPherson began studying with Harris at age 15. Some of his peers, who were also part of that group he practiced and performed with, included Louis Hayes and future Motown legends and members of the Motown house rhythm section, bassist James Jamerson and drummer Richard “Pistol” Allen. After relocating to New York from Detroit in 1959, McPherson began an extensive 12-year association with Charles Mingus, one of the most prolific composers after Duke Ellington. During his tenure with Mingus, the saxophonist appeared on two dozen of his albums that included the critically acclaimed “Pithecanthropus Erectus” (America, 1971), “Let My Children Hear Music” (Columbia, 1972), and “Shoes of the Fisherman’s Wife” (Columbia, 1988).
In 2020, McPherson released “Jazz Dance Suites” on his independent label Chazz Mack Music. It was a culmination of five years of commissioned work with the San Diego Ballet, recorded with his current working band and guests.
Look forward to enjoying rich tones, lyrical swing and McPherson’s deep feel for yesterday’s bebop that he transcribes into the 21st century.
For reservations visit the website jazz.org.
Drummer Marcus Gilmore follows Duke Ellington’s prescription of playing good music. Of course, the elements for his musical excursion are blended in traditional jazz elements, avant garde movements, African rhythms, and those wide-ranging sounds and experiences of growing up in New York.
On July 23-28 Marcus Gilmore will bring his blend of global and New York City excursions to the historic Village Vanguard (178 7th Avenue South). He will be joined by his working Quintet: saxophonist/EWI Morgan Guerin, pianist David Virelles, and bassists Rashaan Carter and Burniss Travis (two shows each night). Gilmore’s Quintet is creatively resourceful and audiences can expect an exciting exploration of percussion and all that comes with it.
Gilmore has played and recorded with an assorted list of musicians including Chick Corea,Vijay Iyer, Jill Scott, Black Thought, Thundercat, Brad Mehldau, Cassandra Wilson, Ravi Coltrane, Savion Glover, Bilal, The Cadillacs, Norah Jones, and Nicholas Payton. This short list demonstrates Gilmore is a first call collaborator when he’s not busy leading his own band.
I recall when Gilmore was only 16 years old at the time and had to get permission from his mom and his counselor at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts to go on tour with the great Clark Terry. Gilmore’s fascination with drums probably was a result of watching his grandfather, the legendary Roy Haynes, practice and maybe he got hold of those drumsticks and liked it. Although, I’m sure it was Roy’s roaring rhythmic sound that enticed him. For times and tickets, villagevanguard.com.
There are vocalists and then there is Fay Victor, a vibrant singer who brings improvisation and exploration to her every song. On July 24 for a one-night stand only, she brings her voicings of multi-genres to Dizzy’s Club (60th Street and Broadway) two shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
The vocalist, composer and lyricist will present “Life is Funny That Way,” an April release that pays imaginative homage to pianist and composer, Herbie Nichols, who missed critical acknowledgement during his lifetime but left behind a grand music legacy. Her project “seeks to combine improvisation inside and outside of the compositions, playing up the pure joy inherent in Nichols’ music.” Her energizing ensemble will include alto and baritone saxophonist Michael Attias, pianist Anthony Coleman, bassist Ratzo Harris, drummer Tom Rainey, and Victor’s vocals, arrangements and lyrics.
The Brooklyn native coined the term “freesong” to describe her vocal approach, a canvas of boastful sounds illuminating blues, classical music, and combustive avant garde scat flurries into one riveting repertoire. Victor has toured the globe enthralling audiences from the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and Germany with a three-month stay in Japan collaborating with pianist Bertha Hope.
Her unique brand of jazz has enabled her to work with such inventive artists as Wadada Leo Smith, Nicole Mitchell, William Parker, Darius Jones and Tyshawn Sorey.
Victor has a considerable reputation on the Lower East Side with the avant garde heads, who will surely follow their star uptown to experience her unique interpretation of music by the often-shadowed Herbie Nichols.
This is the singer’s third appearance at Dizzy’s and her first as a leader. “One of my dreams for this project was to have Herbie Nichols’ music resurrected in a different way with my added lyrics to his compositions,” stated Victor during a phone interview. “Hopefully, the recording and this performance will expand to a new audience and new musicians might want to play his music.”Victor celebrates her birthday on July 26, another Leo. Two shows at 7pm and 9pm. For reservations visit jazz.org.