Published: June 26, 2009 11:16 pm      

Don Redman concert today in Harpers Ferry

Late Piedmont native among great American jazz musicians, arrangers

HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — Harpers Ferry National Historical Park will host the eighth annual Don Redman Heritage Awards and Concert today, featuring jazz drummer Charli Persip and saxophonist Phil Woods. The musicians will be joined by the Howard Burns Quartert.

The event, open to the public free of charge, will be held at 6 p.m. rain or shine on the grounds of the Mather Training Center on the campus of Storer College on Fillmore Street.

The late Redman, a native of Piedmont, is still considered one of the most influential musician/arrangers in jazz history. His talent and style earned him the honorary title of “The Little Giant of Jazz.”

Redman started playing trumpet at the age of 3 and by 12 was proficient on all wind instruments ranging from trumpet to oboe as well as piano. He studied at Storer College and the Boston Conservatory.

Persip is a world renowned drummer who gained initial fame as a member of Dizzy Gillespie’s quintet and big band in the mid 1950s. He later formed his own group, called the Jazz Statesmen. Equally at home in both big bands and combos, he can be heard on more than 300 jazz albums with luminaries such as Red Garland, Lee Morgan, Gil Evans, Archie Shepp and Roland Kirk. Celebrating his 80th birthday this year, Persip is still actively touring.

Woods is one of the all-time great alto saxophone players in jazz history. He began his professional career nearly 60 years ago. For the past 25 years he has traveled and recorded with either a quartet or quintet. He is a perennial jazz poll award winner and a committed educator.