By Robert D. Obergcopyright © 1998, Robert D. Oberg
Having never seen Charles McPherson before, I was totally unprepared for the incredible night of bop that Mr. McPherson presented at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center. Playing a mix of originals, standards, ballads and even a 12-bar blues, Charles McPherson created a wondrous night of jazz music. With his gorgeous alto sax tone and mature sensitivity lifting some possibly mundane material to spectacular heights, McPherson was a cool breeze from the past giving here-and-now chills down the spine. McPherson's playing is unbelievably fresh, taking a standard like "A Night In Tunisia" to a sensual and exciting place during his solo (high point of the evening for me). Charles' writing mirrors his playing in the tune "A Tear and A Smile", a pretty piece with heart and strength, guts and grace. Exuding an intense, but controlled energy, his burnished tone never wavered or faltered once, his horn becoming a fount of beautiful phrases. As evidenced a few nights later in San Francisco (75 miles to the north), McPherson's performance at the Kuumbwa was no fluke.
Behind the drums, Charles McPherson Jr. played economically with lots of forward motion while making some unusual comping choices. While ultimately serving the tune and soloist, he played some pleasantly strange rhythms that occasionally demanded attention (the double-timing of a mid-tempo blues being one example). Jeff Littleton is a superb bass player with great tone and technique (check out his left-hand fingering). He played fine solos during the first set. Pianist Randy Porter was right in the thick of things playing some thrilling block-chord solos and generally playing in a spirited fashion all night.
At the monumental Masonic Auditorium on San Francisco's famous Nob Hill, the McPherson group was joined by Mingus alumnus Jimmy Knepper for a set of Mingus tribute numbers as part of the San Francisco Jazz Festival's Tribute to Mingus (McPherson joined Mingus in 1960, and played with him frequently through 1972). A serious programming error placed the McPherson group between the glorious and explosive Mingus Amungus and a truly awe inspiring Mingus Big Band, both groups turning in exciting sets that rocked the house. I find it hard to believe I'll ever see as great a great big band as The Mingus Big Band again. "Fables of Faubus" was exquisite, with the rest of the tunes just a little bit less than exquisite!
Opening with a fine version of "A Tear and A Smile" and warm introductory remarks by Charles, the band seemed poised for a great set. Jimmy Knepper joined the band at this point to say a few words about working with Mingus and play "Reincarnation of A Lovebird". Sadly, Jimmy Knepper was unable to play well - he seemed ill and had to lay out on "Pork Pie Hat." The band seemed a little unsure of themselves on the Mingus tunes, although Jeff Littleton played a very soulful solo and Charles Sr. played beautifully throughout.
Everything comes back to Charles McPherson, though: he is a be-all and end-all bop alto player for the ages, one of the greats and he is here among us.
Robert D. Oberg, a resident of Santa Cruz, is a devoted jazz fan, frequenter of the on-line Miles list, and programs computers as a day gig.
E-mail: bobo@cruzio.com.
Chas. McPherson Tour | JazzHouse Entrance