Music series returns with Henry Franklin birthday bash

A return performance of the Pierce Street Jazz series will be held Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. in Troesh Conference Center, Zapara School of Business and will spotlight renowned vocalist Barbara Morrison together with Franklin on double bass, Theo Saunders on piano, Charles Owens on saxophone, and Marvin Smith on drums.

The concert will honor Franklin’s 80^th birthday which occurred in October, 2020 when the campus was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and his 81^st this October. Franklin, a Los Angeles native and current Inland Empire resident, has held a career as a professional musician since 1960 and has performed on stage and in the studio with many greats of the jazz industry from ‘60s star Hugh Masekela to Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, Freddie Hubbard, Count Basie and many others. He has played on and produced more than 150 recordings including gold releases, and appeared at venues around the U.S., South America, Europe and Asia. Frequent Southern California performance locales have included Riverside’s Historic Mission Inn where he played for 13 years, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and The Merc in Temecula. Most recently he appeared on the recording “Showers of Blessings,” a sextet performance released in February 2021.

“Jazz keeps me young and feeling great, knowing that I am helping keep our music alive for our great friends and supporters of jazz at Pierce Street,” Franklin said. “This is the only place in Riverside where you can hear real jazz.”

Pierce Street, which showcases professional artists, began in 2009 as a free-admission summer community outreach series through the efforts of Franklin and the university’s Summer Program with assistance from former provost Warren Trenchard. It later expanded to offer performances throughout the year and is currently made possible through a collaboration with the Zapara School of Business.

The Dec. 1 Pierce Street Jazz performance is also available online through Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/piercestreetjazz. Admission to attend Pierce Street Jazz at Troesh Conference Center is free; registration is required. A concert registration form is available at https://forms.gle/EVthEUPbsTYdR9kAA 

Covid-19 Protocol

The following is in effect for attendance of the Pierce Street Jazz performance and other public events in keeping with university Covid-19 pandemic protocol for health and safety:

• Face mask requirement: All persons 2 years of age and older must wear a face mask while attending an indoor event. 
• Full vaccination for Covid-19 is required of all attendees aged 12 and over. To be fully vaccinated, one must have the second dose of the Pfizer (ages 12 - 17) or Moderna vaccines or one dose of the Janssen vaccine at least two weeks prior to the date of the event. 

• To submit vaccine status and attend the event: Enter campus through the main gate on Riverwalk Parkway and stop at the kiosk to verify vaccination status with a Pierce Street Jazz volunteer and receive directions to Troesh Conference Center if needed.

• Two forms of vaccination records are acceptable: 

1.     Original CDC vaccination card 

2.     Digital vaccination record on your smart phone: (https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/) 

For further information about the Dec. 1 Pierce Street Jazz concert, call 951-977-5432 or email pr@lasierra.edu. For information about Henry Franklin and his upcoming performances and projects, visit https://henryfranklin.com