This afternoon's performers:
Barry Harris Trio
Jazz legend and renowned teacher Barry Harris joins up with Leroy Williams on drums and master bassist Don Thompson to create the Barry Harris Trio. Harris’ soulful voice and lyrics have been a prominent influence in the bebop jazz community. In 2006, Harris and Thompson both received Lifetime Achievement awards at the Art of Jazz Celebrations.

Charles McPherson
American jazz alto saxophonist Charles McPherson has been a key player in the jazz scene for over four decades. McPherson got his start studying music under Barry Harris in Detroit and since then has gone on to perform around the world. He was also the featured alto saxophonist in the Clint Eastwood film, “Bird,” a biography about Charlie Parker. The New York Times describes McPherson as “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.”

Vanessa Rubin
Jazz musicians are talking about Vanessa Rubin. They all want her unique phrasing and velvety smooth tone to make their compositions come alive. After leaving Cleveland and moving to New York, she almost immediately began gigging with greats like the Pharaoh Sanders Quartet. She has eight albums to her credit, and has amassed a list of outstanding collaborations, partnering with Lionel Hampton, the Mercer Ellington Orchestra and Grover Washington, Jr. Ms. Rubin recently completed international tours with Herbie Hancock, the Woody Herman Orchestra, and the Jazz Crusaders.

Rashied Ali
Rashied Ali is the father of “free jazz” drumming and one of the most harmonic and innovative drummers to ever grace the world of jazz. He has sat in and collaborated with many R&B and jazz experimenters, most famously with the great John Coltrane. As the leader of the Rashied Ali Quintet, he continues to refine his art while discovering and nurturing new talent.

Robert Glasper
Pianist Robert Glasper is a perfect example of how old and new school can create the future. Classically trained, but moved by his own muse, Glasper has commanded the stage of jazz festivals throughout the world. The profundity of Glasper’s talent is no longer a secret, making him an in-demand musician for numerous hip hop and R&B greats including Mos Def, Common, Jay Z, Erykah Badu and Me’Shell Ndegeocello. Robert Glasper’s three albums have been met with widespread acclaim and his most recent, In My Element, has been called “ravishing.”

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