People
Charles McPherson
Alto Saxophone, USA
Charles was a member of the Mingus band for over 12 years, all through the 60's when it was at its height, and is a featured soloist of many of the classic recordings of that era. He has toured all over the world with his own group, as well as with jazz greats Billy Eckstine, Lionel Hampton, Nat Adderly, Jay McShann Barry Harris and others.
During the 90's he was featured in the sound track for the Clint Eastwood movie about the life of Charlie Parker "Bird". A great deal of the sound track is in fact McPherson and not Parker and it's impossible to tell them apart. More recent large scale projects have been collaborations with the Lincoln Centre Orchestra in New York and Blue Note's star pianist Bill Charlap. He remains a strong, viable force on the jazz scene today. He is at the height of his powers. His playing combines passionate feeling with intricate patterns of improvisation. Throughout his four decades of being an integral performer of the music, Charles has not merely remained true to his BOP origins, but has expanded on them.
