MUSIC

Charles McPherson, Junior Mance, and Tootie Heath are true giants of jazz who continue to push the music forward and expand upon the great traditions they helped define. Alto saxophonist McPherson first achieved national recognition through his long and fruitful association with Charles Mingus in the 1960's and 70's, and has recorded more than 20 albums as a leader. Blending the bebop melodicism of Charlie Parker, the soulful sound of the blues, and a wide streak of improvisational daring, McPherson "plays with an emotion that bloats the notes until the saxophone seems about to melt or crack" (-New York Times).

Pianist Junior Mance is "something else," according to DownBeat, continuing, "so complete is his psychological command over his instrument that very few of his fellows approach him in this area." With a flair for the blues and mastery of bop in all its various guises, Mance has played with Lester Young, Dizzy Gillespie, Dinah Washington and Cannonball Adderley among others, and, after more than fifty years as a bandleader and recording artist, swings harder than ever. Albert "Tootie" Heath's drumming matches his personality; it's simultaneously relaxed and ebullient, with humor and wisdom in equal measure. A Workshop favorite, Tootie has been playing and teaching at the Workshop for over twenty years. Accompanied by John Wiitala, one of the Bay Area's finest bassists, these musical masters deliver jazz at its finest.