Gary Bartz

The Mizell brothers, Larry and Alphonso “Fonce” Mizell, revolutionized jazz-funk under the name Sky High Productions. As a production duo, they shot to fame writing and producing hits for the Jackson 5 while on staff at Motown Records. Their curiosity and creativity brought them to jazz, where they worked on groundbreaking records with Donald Byrd, including Black Byrd and Street Lady. Their days as hitmakers gave them strong pop senses, which they infused into Byrd’s trumpet compositions, laying the foundation for jazz-funk—and a stack of brilliant records. To celebrate his 80th birthday, Larry Mizell joins jazz luminaries Gary Bartz and The Blackbyrds—both of whom worked with the Mizell Brothers in their heyday—and rising talents Melanie Charles and Katalyst to bring us back to one of jazz’s most indelible moments.