Pierce Street Jazz welcomes L.A. saxophone great Abdul-Khaliq

Pierce Street Jazz at La Sierra University once again brings the talents of seasoned musicians to the stage in a concert by the Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq Quartet.

The show takes place Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. at La Sierra's Alumni Center, 11500 Pierce St., Riverside. Admission is free. Abdul-Khaliq's band will feature Gary Matsumoto on piano, Fritz Wise on drums and Henry “the Skipper” Franklin on upright bass. Abdul-Khaliq will lead the group on saxophone.

For more information call 951-785-2148. A campus map is at https://lasierra.edu/resources/campusmap/. The event is part of La Sierra's on-going Pierce Street Jazz concerts which offer the community free jazz by talented, professional players. The periodic concerts kicked off last fall with quartets organized by noted jazz bassist Franklin who has performed with numerous headline acts over the past 40 years. He has played in weekly jazz combos for many years at Riverside's Mission Inn.

Abdul-Khaliq, a Los Angeles composer, arranger and saxophonist, has more than 30 years' experience in recording studios and on stages around the world. He has played with such jazz greats as bop jazz pianist Walter Bishop Jr., jazz double bassist Jimmy Garrison and jazz alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe.

He studied with the late, great African-American pianist Horace Tapscott and continued his relationship with the pianist for many years, serving as assistant conductor, arranger, composer and player of saxophone, clarinet and flute with Tapscott's ensemble, the Pan-Afrikan People's Arkestra. His credits include performing in three German films as well as in the 1975 African-American film classic, “Passing Through,” written by Ted Lange and directed by Larry Clark.

Abdul-Khaliq has also composed original scores for three plays including for his production of “Yardbird's Vamp,” a Robert Earl Price play that depicts the life of saxophone legend Charlie Parker.

Abdul-Khaliq performs regularly with his group, Fuasi & Ensemble, and works throughout Europe with the Afro Cubano Latin Jazz Connection and the Horace Tapscott Memorial Ensemble. He has performed on at least 17 recording projects.

Pianist Matsumoto graduated in 1999 from the University of California, Irvine with a bachelor's of music degree and in 2002 from the California Institute of the Arts with a master's degree. At UCI he studied with Dr. Lorna Griffith and with Miles Davis pianist Kei Akagi. He studied with David Roistein at the art institute.

A relative newcomer to the professional jazz music scene, Matsumoto has amassed a lengthy resume of performance and recording experiences including work with film composer Nathan Wang, with famed MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer in his opening performance for Cheap Trick, and performances with international recording artists Coco Lee, JJ Lin, Vivian Hsu, and Jenny Tseng. In 2008, SP Records released “The Matsumoto Trio - Days Ahead.” Other playing credits include work with Henry Franklin, Azar Lawrence, Bobby Rodriguez, Clayton Cameron, Charles Owens, Mark Ferber, Jeff Littleton, Ricky Woodard, Jeff Clayton, Herman Riley, Sam Most, and Phil Ranelin.

Franklin has honed his bass-playing skills with the greats of the business. To name a few, he has played with Al Jarreau, Stevie Wonder, Count Basie, Freddie Hubbard and Milt Jackson and was part of the legendary Hugh Musekela's band during the late 1960s. A native of Los Angeles, his storied background includes recordings on gold albums and performances on more than 100 records, many of which he produced. He creates albums under his label, SP Records. “I strive and work hard to do the best for jazz,” Franklin says in his biography. “It's America's only art form.”

Wise's many years of drumming performance include work with music icons Kenny Burrell, David “Fathead” Newman, The Temptations, Barbara Morrison, Azar Lawrence and pianist Tapscott.

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