Piano, saxophone greats to kick it up at La Sierra University

Relax to the cool tunes of the Phil Wright Quartet featuring English saxophone sensation, Benn Clatworthy, Tues., Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. in La Sierra University's Student Center. The concert is free and features top jazz musicians who have honed their skill with music's hottest acts. Wright, a pianist and former Capitol Records producer, Clatworthy and band members Donald Dean, drums, and Henry “The Skipper” Franklin, bass, will get your toes tappin' and your fingers snappin'. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The adjacent Eagles Nest café will offer gastronomical samplings for concertgoers.

La Sierra University is at 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside, 92515. A campus map is at https://lasierra.edu/index.php?id=981. For more information call 951-785-2148, or e-mail summer@lasierra.edu.

The upcoming event is part of the La Sierra University Summer Jazz Series featuring well-known professional musicians who have spent years honing their craft on stage and in the studio. The final concert will take place on Tues., Aug. 18, and will feature the Henry Franklin Quartet.

Legendary jazz bassist Franklin is organizing the events at La Sierra. He and his group have performed for over ten years at The Mission Inn in Riverside, Calif. The Los Angeles native's storied background includes recordings on gold albums and work with many high-profile musicians, among them Count Basie, Freddie Hubbard, Milt Jackson and Stevie Wonder. Franklin has performed on more than 100 albums, many of which he produced.

Franklin also produces artists on his label, SP Records. His latest project, “Home Cookin',” is available on his Web site. “I strive and work hard to do the best for Jazz,” Franklin says in his biography. “It's America's only art form.”

Wright grew up in New York City. His career in music spans over 50 years. As a pianist, arranger, composer and producer he has been involved with many musical productions. In the 1950's he worked with Abbey Lincoln, Gigi Gryce, Benny Green and Betty Carter. In the 1960's he was a staff arranger at Chess Records in Chicago and a member of the Regal Theater house band. He next worked at Capitol Records in Hollywood, Calif. as an arranger and producer with Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson, Lou Rawls and many others. He was conductor pianist for Nancy Wilson during most of the 1970's. In the 1980's Wright toured Europe as conductor for the Broadway show “Sophisticated Ladies.” Since that time he served as music director at Maple Drive restaurant in Beverly Hills, Calif. He has recorded with many artists including Barbara Morrison, Ernie Andrews and Al McKibbon. Wright recorded two albums under his own name.

Benn Clatworthy was born in England in 1955. Clatworthy has been a resident of Los Angeles, Calif. since 1980 when he arrived for a two-week visit and never left, he said. He studied the horn with saxophone guru Phil Sobel.

Clatworthy has worked with: Cedar Walton, Francisco Aguabella, Otmaro Ruiz, Cecilia Coleman, Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Cleveland, John Heard, Roy McCurdy, Jon Mayer, Tony Insalaco, Jeff Berlin, Martin Drew, The New Jazz Couriers, Alan Barnes Nonet, Anita Wardell, Tony Lujan, Larry Gales, Alex Acuna, Johnny “Hammond” Smith, Ray Armando, Henry Franklin, Bobby Shew, Pete Christlieb, Garcia brothers, Carl Burnett, Al "Tootie" Heath, Jimmy Branly, the Ebonic Blues Orchestra, Theo Saunders, Gary Novak and Dave Carpenter.

He is a member of the Fransisco Aguabella Latin Jazz Septet and the Tony Insalaco Quintet. His two latest album releases are titled “The Decider” and “Luminessence.”

PR Contact: Larry Becker
Executive Director of University Relations
La Sierra University
Riverside, California
951.785.2460 (voice)