Pierce Street Jazz returns with Grammy-nominated saxophonist Pinter

Pinter, twice nominated for a Grammy award and a performer with a long roster of A-list credits, will take the stage on Thursday, Sept. 25. The concert will be held at Troesh Conference Center, Zapara School of Business beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Acclaimed artists and jazz series band members Henry “the Skipper” Franklin, bass, Theo Saunders, piano, and Yayo Morales, drums, will join Pinter for the two-set show.

Pinter’s performance chops include appearances with such legendary notables as Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Billy Eckstine, Cab Calloway, Frankie Lane, Nancy Wilson, Roberta Flack, Arturo Sandoval, and many others. He has also appeared on numerous recordings and performed with many jazz ensembles such as the Ron Stout Quintet, the Carl Saunders Sextet and Big Band, Raoul Romero All-Star Big Band, and with groups at major amusement parks including Disneyland and Six Flags parks.

He currently teaches saxophone and is a lecturer at the UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Texas.

Pierce Street Jazz band members Franklin, who also organizes talent for each show, pianist Saunders and drummer Morales all hold extensive experience as international performers and recording artists. Saunders is also a composer who has directed music for opera productions and international musical theater.

Franklin, a Riverside area resident, he has held a career as a professional musician since 1959 and has performed on stage and in the studio with many greats 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. Southern California performance locales have included Riverside’s historic Mission Inn where he played for 13 years. 

In February 2023, Franklin was awarded Outstanding Jazz Album-Instrumental for the 2023 NAACP Image Awards along with producers Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge. 

The Pierce Street Jazz series at La Sierra University is presented by the Office of the President and the Zapara School of Business. 

La Sierra University is located at 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside. For further information contact pr@lasierra.edu or 951-785-2016.