Saxophonist Chaikin to lead Pierce Street concert

She's a Berklee College of Music of grad and played with some of music's top acts including Alicia Keys and Sheila E. On Wed., June 2, saxophonist Carol Chaikin will bring her skills and talent to the stage in the next Pierce Street Jazz concert, leading the Carol Chaikin Quartet.

The concert will take place at La Sierra University's Alumni Center, 11500 Pierce St. Admission is free. Call 951-785-2148 for additional information.

Chaikin's ensemble will feature Theo Saunders on piano, Ramon Banda on drums and Bill Casale on upright bass. The event is part of La Sierra's on-going Pierce Street Jazz concerts which offer the community free jazz by professional players who have honed their skill in the studio and on stages around the world. The periodic concerts kicked off last fall with quartets organized by noted jazz bassist, Henry Franklin.

Saunders has performed at many of the world's most prestigious jazz festivals and concert halls with a wide range of distinguished artists including Freddie Hubbard, Carla Bley, David “Fathead” Newman, Barbara Morrison, Charles Lloyd, Claudio Roditi, Victor Brasil, Raul De Souza, Bobby Rodriguez, Gladys Knight, the Four Tops and many others.
He has directed music for opera productions and international musical theatre.

Banda is a former, 24-year member of the Grammy-award-winning Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz band. He grew up in Norwalk, Calif., part of a large musical family. When Banda was a boy, the family performance group, The Latin Boys, played at parties and weddings around Southern California. Banda started out on the guitar but switched to drums in 1967 when his cousin Mike Chavarria Jr. was called to serve in Vietnam. Banda and his electric bass-playing brother, Tony Banda, performed weekend gigs during their grade school years with several bands including with Poncho Sanchez.

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