Charles McPherson's Solid Statement in 1973
A straightforward, well-played session that shows McPherson as a reliable voice in the mid-seventies mainstream.
Today's Man arrived in 1973 as a working saxophonist's record—solid, professional, and honest. It did not generate immediate critical fanfare or establish McPherson as a major figure, nor did it become a cult object discovered years later. Instead, it operated in the working jazz economy of its time: a Mainstream release aimed at the steady listeners and radio programmers who supported straight-ahead swing and bebop-rooted playing. The album landed without controversy or hype, which is its own kind of integrity.
What matters about Today's Man is that it captures McPherson playing exactly what he does well: alto saxophone with a clear tone, solid rhythmic sense, and genuine melodic conviction. There's no experimentation here, no searching—just a musician confident in his approach and happy to deliver it. For anyone interested in where jazz was actually being made in 1973 outside the avant-garde and fusion attention-getting, this is the real thing. McPherson had already proven himself capable of serious work, and this album simply continues that trajectory without fanfare.
It remains a good record to put on if you want alto saxophone that swings without showing off, and company that never gets in its own way. That's worth something, even if no one was rushing to discuss it at the time.
Who's playing
Larry Evansbass
Barry Harrispiano
Charles McPhersonalto saxophone
Garnett Browntrombone
Billy Higginsdrums
Cecil Bridgewaterbrass
Julius WatkinsFrench horn
Frank Wesswoodwind
Richard Williamsbrass
Chris Woodswoodwind
Where next?
More by Charles McPherson
All 22 albums →
The musicians on this record
Bull's Eye! 1972
Barry Harris
plays piano here
plays piano here
♫
The Oracle 1989
Billy Higgins
plays drums (drum set) here
plays drums (drum set) here
