Charles McPherson

An esteemed alto saxophonist and torchbearer for the bebop tradition, Charles McPherson built upon the work of Charlie Parker, carrying forth the modern jazz sound for over 50 years. He emerged from the vibrant Detroit scene of the 1950s, where he was mentored by pianist Barry Harris. In New York, he was an integral member of the Charles Mingus band into the '70s. As a leader, McPherson recorded from the '60s onward for Prestige, Mainstream, and Xanadu, including albums like Bebop Revisited!, Today's Man, and New Horizons, all of which found him developing his deep, soulful, hard-swinging, and lyrical take on modern acoustic jazz. He eventually settled in San Diego and enjoyed a resurgence after playing on the soundtrack to director Clint Eastwood's Charlie Parker biopic Bird. He has remained a vital presence well into his eighties, releasing 2015's The Journey, 2020's Jazz Dance Suites, and 2024's Reverence.