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Pierce Street Jazz at La Sierra University

Presented by La Sierra University

November 4, 2009

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Want to hear great, live jazz close to home? La Sierra University, expanding upon successful summer jazz concerts with top musicians, is launching another series under the title “Pierce Street Jazz at La Sierra University.” The first performance on Nov. 4 will feature the Al Williams Quartet, a group of seasoned musicians who bring a cornucopia of talent and experience. Williams performs on drums, Doug Webb on saxophone, Gary Matsumoto on piano and Henry “The Skipper” Franklin on bass. Williams is the founder of the Long Beach Jazz Festival, a signature Southern California jazz venue that held its 22nd event in August. Williams has performed and recorded with such greats as Hampton Hawes, Teddy Edwards, Willie Bobo, Kenny Burrell, Eddie Harris, Jimmy Witherspoon and Lowell Folsom. Webb’s music resume boasts a lengthy list of recordings for major feature films and television shows including Clint Eastwood’s “Gran Torino,” “Changeling,” “The Big Time,” “Grace of My Heart,” “Soul Food,” “Mystic River,” “Law and Order,” “America’s Most Wanted,” and “The Simpsons.” Webb has recorded and performed with Quincy Jones, Carly Simon, Stanley Clarke, Doc Severinsen and His Big Band, Englebert Humpedink, Kenny Rogers and Rod Stewart. Matsumoto and Franklin perform jazz at Riverside’s Mission Inn each weekend. Matsumoto has amassed a lengthy resume of performance and recording experiences including work with famed MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer and his opening performance for Cheap Trick, film composer Nathan Wang, and performances with international recording artists Coco Lee, JJ Lin, Vivian Hsu, and Jenny Tseng. For more than 40 years Franklin has honed his craft 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.