Jazz pianist Harold Mabern was born in Memphis, a city that produced jazz greats including his mentor, Phineas Newborn, Jr. After moving to New York, Mabern began working with Cannonball Adderley and Harry “Sweets” Edison. Building a reputation as a sideman, he worked with Lionel Hampton, Betty Carter, Grant Green, Miles Davis, J.J. Johnson, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Wes Montgomery, Sarah Vaughan and Joe Williams. For the past 25 years, Mabern has remained ensconced in the NYC jazz scene, while also performing at clubs and in concert halls across the U.S. and Europe. This is Harold Mabern’s SMF debut.