Pierce Street series to hold Christmas concert featuring Carol Chaikin

 

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – In launching holiday season festivities, La Sierra University will hold a concert this week showcasing saxophonist and composer Carol Chaikin with an ensemble of noted musicians.

<p> Saxophonist, educator and composer Carol Chaikin will perform at Troesh Conference Center on Dec. 7. (Photos courtesy of the artists) </p>

Saxophonist, educator and composer Carol Chaikin will perform at Troesh Conference Center on Dec. 7. (Photos courtesy of the artists)

<p> Henry Franklin, bassist, is based in the Riverside area and has performed and recorded with many of music's top acts. </p>

Henry Franklin, bassist, is based in the Riverside area and has performed and recorded with many of music's top acts.

<p> Pianist and composer Theo Saunders has performed in some of the world's top venues. </p>

Pianist and composer Theo Saunders has performed in some of the world's top venues.

<p> Drummer Yayo Morales has performed around the globe and has taught at various schools. He designed and implemented a new drum program at Bolivia's National Conservatoire of Music. </p>

Drummer Yayo Morales has performed around the globe and has taught at various schools. He designed and implemented a new drum program at Bolivia's National Conservatoire of Music.

The concert, part of the Pierce Street Jazz series, will be held Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at Troesh Conference Center, Zapara School of Business on the university campus. Admission is free.

Joining Chaikin will be artists Henry “the Skipper” Franklin on bass, Theo Saunders on piano, and Yayo Morales on drums.

Chaikin, a Los Angeles native, is a graduate of the famed Berklee College of Music. She performed and composed in New York City for 16 years and has played with such notable artists and acts as Mary Watkins, John Margolis and Jennifer York as well as during the Grammy Awards with Alicia Keys, with Shiela E. for the BET Awards and on The American Idol television singing competition series. She has been musical director for “Instrumental Women” at the John Anson Ford Theatre for several years and previously served on the faculty and as an artist in residence at the Aspen Music School for nine years where she taught saxophone and jazz improvisation. In 2020, Chaikin received a Master of Arts from Cal Arts Institute. She has toured around the United States, Europe, Brazil and Japan.

Saunders, who is also a composer, has performed in many of the world’s most prestigious festivals and concert halls with distinguished artists including Freddie Hubbard, Carla Bley, David “Fathead” Newman, Gladys Knight, and many others. He has directed music for opera productions and international musical theatre. He also has numerous compositions to his credit as well as original scores for theatre, radio and multimedia production.

Morales, a native of Bolivia, earned a diploma from the Escuela de Música Creativa in Madrid, Spain, and also received a European professional music diploma in Belgium, his bio states. He plays a wide range of styles including Latin jazz, Brazilian jazz, and Flamenco and has toured around the world with such notable artists as Rita Marley, La Calle Caliente, Benn Clatworthy, Steve Cotter, and many others. He has taught at various schools and was invited in 2013 by the Bolivian Department of Education to design and implement a new drum program at the National Conservatoire of Music.

A Riverside area resident, Franklin 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 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. He recently appeared on the recording “Showers of Blessings,” a sextet performance released in February 2021.

On Nov. 2, 2022, Franklin received a Certificate of Appreciation from the city of Riverside for his artistic contributions to the community, presented by Ward 7 Councilmember Steve Hemenway.

The Dec. 7 performance will also be available online at https://stream.lasierra.edu and through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/piercestreetjazz. The Zapara School of Business is at La Sierra University, 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside, Calif., 92505. 

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