Jazzing it up with Charles McPherson at Saddleback College

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.  Saddleback College’s Jazz Day will feature performances by the Saddleback Big Band, conducted by Joey Sellers, and renowned saxophonist Charles McPherson on Saturday, February 2nd at 7 pm in the McKinney Theatre. 

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 performed with Charles Mingus from 1960 to 1972. He was also the featured saxophonist in the Clint Eastwood film Bird, a biography about Charlie Parker. McPherson remains a strong, viable force on the jazz scene today. Throughout his four decades of being an integral performer of the music, he has not merely remained true to his BOP origins, but has expanded on them. “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.” – Stanley Crouch, New York Times

Tickets are $10 general; $7 students/seniors.  Call the ticket office at 949-582-4656 (noon-4, Tues-Sat) or order your tickets online at www.saddleback.edu/arts.

 Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Pkwy in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit.  Complimentary parking is available in Lot 12 with overflow parking in Lot 10. Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the second left to “Theatre Circle,” turning right into Lot 12.

Jazz Studies at Saddleback College emphasizes creativity through improvisation and ensemble performance. Focusing on the historical, theoretical and intuitive aspects of this American music, Director Joey Sellers and an outstanding cadre of nationally recognized musicians comprise the jazz faculty. Curricula include Improvisation, Jazz Composition and Arranging, Jazz History Syllabus, Jazz History Audio, Jazz History Podcast, Jazz Piano, Saddleback Big Band, Jazz Lab Ensemble, and Combos.  Students in Jazz Studies at Saddleback College have transferred to prestigious institutions including University of Southern California, Eastman School of Music, Berkeley School of Music, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, University of California at San Diego, and other regional institutions.  Some of our alumni have gone on to play professionally with Frank Zappa, Diana Ross, and other high-profile artists and organizations.

           

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visitwww.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.