Pierce Street Jazz, a long-running music series at La Sierra University will feature this month the talents of Los Angeles saxophonist Chuck Manning in a performance with a trio of industry professionals.
Manning will take the stage Wednesday, Nov. 13. at 7 p.m. at Troesh Conference in La Sierra University’s Zapara School of Business. Backing him will be Henry “the Skipper” Franklin, bass, Theo Saunders, piano, and Yayo Morales on drums. Admission is free.
Manning studied jazz performance at the University of North Texas. During an extensive career, he has shared the stage and toured with many noted musicians in the United States, China, Russia, and Europe. He recently returned from a European tour with the Los Angeles Jazz Quartet and is currently performing with jazz trumpeter Bobby Bradford’s 100th year musical tribute series to Jackie Robinson.
Manning has recorded many CDs and has released a new album this year with the Los Angeles Jazz Quartet recorded live in Poland. He has held a long-time collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Isla Eckinger. In 2008, Manning released his first solo album titled “Notes from the Real.”
He performs extensively in Los Angeles and surrounding communities such as Pasadena. The October 10, 2019 issue of the Pasadena Weekly noted Manning’s recognition as Best Local Musician of the Year.
Franklin has organized the Pierce Street Jazz concerts at La Sierra University since their inception as a summer jazz series in 2009. He has recorded and produced more than 150 albums and compact discs including two gold releases. One of his latest albums through his label Skipper Productions is titled “Three More Sounds: High Voltage.” Released in 2015, it is a tribute to McCoy Tyner and includes Manning as a guest artist. Over the years Franklin has performed and recorded with many headline artists including Freddie Hubbard, Count Basie, Stevie Wonder, Sonny Rollins, Milt Jackson, and the legendary Hugh Masekela.
Saunders, who is also a composer, has performed in many of the world’s most prestigious jazz 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 jazz, Latin jazz, Brazilian jazz, Flamenco and rock, and has toured around the world with such notable artists as Rita Marley, La Calle Caliente, Benn Clatworthy, Steve Cotter, Pierce Street’s Franklin 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.
Pierce Street Jazz concerts are held in the Troesh Conference Center, Zapara School of Business at La Sierra University, 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside, Calif., 92505. Seating is general admission. A campus map is available at http://lasierra.edu/campus-map/.