...was pivotal in my development as a
musician. | arrived in Boston to attend
Berklee as a student in the fall of 1967.
Most of the things that | wanted to learn
and accomplish have a connection to my
time at Berklee. The Berklee teachers were
exactly what | needed to develop as a
player and thinker. My fellow students

and friends were the support group

that sustained me during my times of

lll BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC...

introspection and self-doubt. My musical
journey would have been very different
had | not attended and graduated from
Berklee. | would like to give a special
thanks to Joe Viola, Andy McGhee,

Larry Monroe, Alan Dawson, Matt
Marvuglio, and James Williams. These
gentlemen were my mentors and
earthly angels...

Bill Pierce

The Art of the Tenor: Celebrating Bill Pierce

In honor of renowned saxophonist and
educator Bill Pierce, this celebratory
concert features former students Javon
Jackson, Mark Turner, Antonio Hart, and
Melissa Aldana. Pierce, chair emeritus
of Berklee's Woodwinds Department,
is a 1972 Berklee graduate who has
performed with some of the indisputable
masters of music—Freddie Hubbard,
Marvin Gaye, Tony Williams, Art
Farmer, Hank Jones, Stevie Wonder,
and Art Blakey, to name a few.

Producing the concert is Grammy-
winning drummer, composer, and
bandleader Terri Lyne Carrington and will

feature music from the songbooks of Art
Blakey, Tony Williams, Pierce originals, and
more. The concert will be divided into two
sections. Jackson, Turner, Hart, and Aldana
will perform the first half with Lawrence
Fields on piano, John Lockwood on bass,
David Gilmore on guitar, and Ron Savage
on drums. Pierce will lead the second

half of the concert with long-time
collaborators, including guitarist

Kevin Eubanks, organist Jake Sherman,
drummer Carrington, along with a host

of special guests to help further pay
tribute to Pierce’s significant contribution
to music.