FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Arts/Features Editor
January 19, 2016
CONTACT
Andrew Lee
Director, Puffin Cultural Forum
Tel.: 201-836-3499
Fax: 201-836-1734
E-mail: alee@puffinfoundation.org
Chuck McPherson’s Swing-matism
Friday February 5th, 7:00 p.m.— Jazz drummer Chuck McPherson returns to the Puffin
Cultural Forum with pianist Bertha Hope and bassist Leon Dorsey to present Swingmatism, a special program featuring jazz of the 30s, 40s, and 50s.
Swing-matism is named after a composition by pianist and swing bandleader Jay
McShann, who famously hired and recorded with a young Charlie Parker. Chuck
McPherson has developed Swing-matism to highlight Black American culture of the 30s,
40s, and 50s, “a period when jazz was America’s popular music.”
“It’s is a celebration of swing music,” says McPherson. “I’m just trying to preserve the
noble history of the music form.” The trio are themselves a part of jazz history. Chuck
McPherson, son of alto saxophonist Charles McPherson, performs regularly with pianist
Bertha Hope in the house band of the historic Minton’s club in Harlem. McPherson and
bassist Leon Dorsey both played with Lionel Hampton’s big band. This performance will
be their debut as a trio ensemble.
The concert will feature the music of Count Basie, Lester Young, and Duke Ellington,
among others. The audience can look forward to classics “Stompin’ at the Savoy,” “Until
the Real Thing Comes Along,” and “Take the A Train.”
Open to the public, $10 Suggested Donation. Reservations are recommended and can be
made by phone, 201-836-3499, or email, tix@puffinfoundation.org. The Puffin Cultural
Forum is at 20 Puffin Way (off Teaneck Rd.) in Teaneck. For more information visit,
www.puffinculturalforum.org.
CHUCK MCPHERSON: is a drummer and songwriter based in Teaneck, NJ. Born in
Detroit to alto saxophonist Charles McPherson, he studied with Billie Higgins, Max,
Roach, and Art Blakey. McPherson has toured with Freddie Hubbard, Roberta Flack, and
Harold Land, among others. He was the resident drummer for the rap record label Sugar
Hill Records. Today McPherson performs with the Minton Players at the historic
Minton’s club in Harlem and works with young talent in master classes and workshops.
BERTHA HOPE: is a pianist, composer, arranger and jazz educator born into a musical
family in Los Angeles, California. Hope has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Phillie Joe
Jones, Nat Adderly, and Cassandra Wilson and was notably featured in the 1961 album
Hope-Full alongside her late husband jazz pianist Elmo Hope. She has toured Europe and
Japan. In recent decades Hope recorded four albums as a bandleader and solo pianist.
She teaches high school students and performs with the Minton’s Players in Harlem.
LEON DORSEY: is a bassist, composer and arranger who made his solo recital debut at
Lincoln Center in 1999. He has performed with Lionel Hampton, Art Blakey and hiss
Jazz Messengers, and Cassandra Wilson. As composer and arranger, Dorsey has
performed with Dizzy Gillsepie, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Clarke, and
Harry “Sweets” Edison, among others. He has also performed with Frank Sinatra and
made guest appearances at the White House under Presidents Reagan and Clinton.
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The Puffin Cultural Forum is a project of the Puffin Foundation, Ltd. which, through the
arts, encourages dialog about issues important to the community. The Puffin Foundation,
Ltd. underwrites this and all other Puffin Cultural Forum events and programs in order to
make it possible for everyone to attend.
NOTE TO PRESS AND PHOTO EDITORS: This release and high resolution JPEGs can
be downloaded at http://www.puffinculturalforum.org/news-press/pressroom.html