Trumpeter Nolan Shaheed to lead Pierce Street Jazz performance

Shaheed, an accomplished musician and former lead trumpet for Count Basie and music director for Marvin Gaye, brings decades of performance experience to the stage. A Pasadena native, Shaheed specializes in cornet and trumpet. Throughout his career, he has played alongside legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins, and Diana Ross and has established himself as a respected bandleader and soloist. He performed for Pierce Street Jazz in 2016 and in 2024.

In addition to his musical achievements, Shaheed is also an accomplished masters athlete and middle-distance runner, holding world records in the 800-meter, 1500 meter and one-mile races.

Joining Shaheed are three highly acclaimed jazz musicians, drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith, pianist Theo Saunders, and bassist Henry “the Skipper” Franklin.

Smith, a former member of the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” band, is known for his versatility across jazz styles and his work with jazz greats including Sonny Rollins and Art Farmer. Born in Illinois, Smith grew up surrounded by music and received training at a young age. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Smith earned credibility as an accomplished drummer and composer. He has appeared on more than 200 albums and remains a prominent figure in the jazz world.

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.

Bassist Henry Franklin, who has organized the Pierce Street Jazz artists since the series’ inception in 2009, has an extensive musical resume. 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 Stevie Wonder to 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.

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

The Troesh Conference Center performance will be held at 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.