Tenor saxophone master Houston Person is widely considered the “soul jazz” standard-bearer. Person’s prolificacy is astounding; on top of being a celebrated and active sideman, he has released more than 75 albums as a leader over the past five decades. Of his 2017 album, Rain or Shine, JazzTimes wrote that “It is the sensual, slightly sweaty, blues-based groove they used to call soul-jazz. It was central to the jazz art form (and to its commercial viability in the 1960s)…When you hear an authentic voice of the genre like Person you remember how easy it is to like this music.”
As eclectic as he is talented, Person has recorded everything from disco and gospel to pop and r&b, in addition to his trademark, soulful hard bop. After years as producer and house tenor for HighNote Records and touring with the late Etta Jones, Person is now known as a master of popular songs played in a relaxed, highly accessible style reminiscent of the great Ben Webster.
Guitarist Matt Chertkoff has played in 9 countries and appeared at numerous jazz festivals and on several international TV shows. The melding of Houston Person's Big soulfull tenor sound with Matt Chertkoff's swinging bluesy trio is something that really must be experienced in person.
Houston Person and Matt Chetkoff Trio
Jersey City Jazz Festival