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Eric McPherson
By the time Eric was eight, he was teaching himself to play on a drum set borrowed from Charles Moffett. At twelve, he started seven years of formal drum studies under Michael Carvin, a master drummer and a brilliant teacher. Within the year, he was jamming with another kid, Abraham Burton (now a major saxophonist). Together, they started doing street performances at anti-apartheid rallies, soon to be joined by young Nasheet Waits (now an up and coming drummer). A year later they were performing on-stage at Barry Harris' Jazz Cultural Theater.
About the same time, Eric was admitted to New York's prestigious LaGuardia High School of the Arts, a school for gifted students. Soon he was selected for the New York All City High School Big Band, making his Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center debuts with the Big Band--and winning several Outstanding Soloist Awards.
Upon graduating, his mentor Michael Carvin recommended Eric to Jackie McLean. That led to a full scholarship for attending the Jackie McLean Institute at the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford. While still a student at Hartt, Jackie invited Eric to join the Jackie McLean Quintet--along with Rene McLean, Alan Palmer and Nat Reeves. For the next 15 years, until Jackie's recent death, Eric was his drummer, following in the distinguished footsteps of drummers Michael Carvin, Billy Higgins, Jack DeJohnette and Tony Williams. Over those years, Eric recorded two CDs with Jackie and performed with him at major venues and festivals all over the Far East, Middle East, Latin America, Europe, the Caribbean, and the U.S.
In addition to his touring and recording with Jackie McLean, Eric has also performed with a wide range of major jazz figures, including Pharaoh Sanders, Andrew Hill, Richard Davies, Claudia Acuno, Jason Moran, Greg Osby and Avishai Cohen.
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The Burton/McPherson Trio: The Summit Rock Session at Seneca Village
by Jack Bowers
The Burton/McPherson Trio consists of tenor saxophonist Abraham Burton, drummer Eric McPherson and bassist Dezron Douglas. Why it isn't called the Burton/McPherson/Douglas Trio is anyone's guess; the hope is that bassist Douglas' feelings weren't too badly hurt by the omission. He may have found solace in the outer jacket's addendum, Featuring Dezron Douglas." In any case, this is the trio recorded live in June 2021 at Summit Rock in Seneca Village, an historic mostly African-American settlement in New York City's ...
read moreBorderlands Trio: Wandersphere
by John Sharpe
Like a billionaire with money to burn, the Borderlands Trio frequently launch into space, and hit the jackpot in doing so. On this double disc set, the threesomecomprising bassist Stephan Crump, pianist Kris Davis and drummer Eric McPhersonluxuriate in the wide open vistas of four expansive improvisations of between nineteen and forty-two minutes. The decision to play and present entire pieces rather than excerpts, as they did on some of the shorter numbers on their debut Asteroidea (Intakt, 2017), pays ...
read moreStephan Crump: Wandersphere
by Mark Corroto
Let's play a game. Call it Is it improvised or composed?" Today's contestants are the Borderlands Trio, comprised of bassist Stephan Crump, pianist Kris Davis, and drummer Eric McPherson. Their release Wandersphere, recorded in December, 2020, consists of four tracks on two CDs. Four lengthy tracks, the shortest nearly twenty minutes and the longest at forty-one minutes plus. The game is, of course, rigged because listeners of the trio's previous release Asteroidea (Intakt, 2017) will know all the music is ...
read moreBorderlands Trio: Stephan Crump / Kris Davis / Eric McPherson: Wandersphere
by Dan McClenaghan
It begins so quietly, whispering out of silence like a ghost. The creaking door of Stephan Crump's arco bass, the hiss of Eric McPherson's brushes, the parsimonious delicacy of Kris Davis' piano notes. This is what opens Disc one of this two CD outing by the Borderlands Trio. The tune's following half hour's worth of improvisational expressionism--an exercise in filling the vacuum with free flowing musical ideas--gathers momentum, like an incoming storm, or maybe a colony of microscopic organisms reaching ...
read moreTony Davis: Golden Year
by Kyle Simpler
Tony Davis definitely knows how to get things done. At 25, he has already earned a Master's Degree and is involved in musical education. He has played and recorded with some of the most notable jazz musicians around, including the group, Works for Me. With Golden Year, his first solo album, Davis captures the energy of his recent experiences and transforms it into an exciting musical offering. This record not only showcases Davis' talent as a guitarist and composer, but ...
read moreEric McPherson: Continuum
by Jim Santella
Drummer Eric McPherson leads a creative ensemble on this eclectic program for the free transmission of ideas. He's grown out of deep experience with the late legends Jackie McLean and Andrew Hill. Tradition remains intact as his ensemble interprets pieces by the former and bassist Richard Davis, while several original compositions power the drummer and his partners solidly. Abraham Burton joins on saxophones and flute, adding an alluring voice. When they team with bassist John Hebert--McPherson's rhythm mate from Hill's ...
read moreWill Sellenraad, Eric McPherson and Rene Hart release 'Greene Street Vol. 1' 0n Deko Music
Source:
Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
“For his fourth album, guitarist Will Sellenraad set out to capture a social dynamic in motion. He called on two longtime associates, bassist Rene Hart and drummer Eric McPherson, and made Green Street Vol. 1, which is due out on Deko Music on June 14. The album includes tunes by all three musicians, but its opening trackand first single, premiering hereis a song by pianist James Williams, Alter Ego." Perhaps you remember the tune from Williams' album by that name ...
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Flutist/Composer Itai Kriss Releases New CD "The Shark" Featuring Aaron Goldberg, Omer Avital, Eric McPherson, Avashai Cohen, and John Ellis.
Source:
Two for the Show Media
Flutist/Composer Itai Kriss releases new CD The Shark" featuring Aaron Goldberg, Omer Avital, Eric McPherson, Avashai Cohen, & John Ellis. Backed by a hard-grooving rhythm section and stellar special guests Itai Kriss explores the junction of swinging Hard-bop, Caribbean rhythms and funky beats in the first record as a leader from the virtuoso flutist and composer. Itai Kriss is a dynamic flutist whose musical style encompasses Jazz, Latin and Middle Eastern sounds. Born into a musical household in Israel, to ...
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Will Sellenraad Trio @ Smalls 6/17 Feat: Kiyoshi Kitagawa & Eric McPherson
Source:
All About Jazz
JD Allen, Eric Revis and Eric McPherson at The Blue Note, August 14
Source:
All About Jazz
The JD Allen Trio at The Blue Note Monday, August 14th, 2006 8pm & 10:30pm
JD Allen, tenor / Eric Revis, bass / Eric McPherson, drums
Hailed by the New York Times as a tenor saxophonist with an enigmatic,elegant and hard-driving style," J.D. Allen is one of the most thoughtful jazz saxophonists on the scene today.
The Detroit natives' apprenticeship has largely been in New York, where he has performed, recorded, and toured with legends Lester Bowie, George Cables, Betty ...
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Will Sellenraad & Root Down weekend extravaganza @ DETOUR NYC Feat: Eric McPherson & Gary Versace
Source:
All About Jazz
***Will Sellenraad & Root Down*** **Will Sellenraad- guitar** **Gary Versace- organ** **Eric McPherson- drums** *** get down... Friday, January 28th 9:30pm 1:30am & Saturday, January 29th 9:30pm 1:30am Detour 349 East 13th Street @ 1st Ave. NYC :: 212.533.6212 *** Hey folks, please join us for a very special winter weekend engagement at our favorite spot in NYC! ...
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Will Sellenraad Trio featuring Eric McPherson & Gary Wang @ Detour NYC
Source:
All About Jazz
Will Sellenraad & Root Down @ Detour Tonight feat... Eric McPherson
Source:
All About Jazz