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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nYour guide to the best concerts coming to Memphis in April 2026<\/p>\n
From Uncle Charlie’s Cookout to Travis Tritt, CeCe Winans to Jeff Dunham, here are some of the best shows coming to Memphis in April.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Gary Topper has long been one of Memphis’ top horn players. In addition to his jazz credentials, he\u2019s also contributed to recordings by a wide range of pop, rock and R&B stars, including Keith Richards, Al Green, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Nancy Wilson, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald and Jimmy Buffett.\u00a0<\/p>\n In March, his \u201clittle big band\u201d Gary Topper & Symmetry put out a new EP, \u201cNight Shade.\u201d Topper and company will mark the release with a pair of local shows in April and May.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what to know about the record and concerts in Memphis.<\/p>\n Topper got his start as a teen in the Memphis recording scene working with producer Willie Mitchell, saxophonist Andrew Love and other members of the Memphis Horns. While still a college student, he joined Charlie Rich\u2019s road band and later spent several years with the national touring show, \u201cElvis, an American Musical.\u201d<\/p>\n In the late 1980s, Topper moved to New York where he played on feature film soundtracks, Broadway shows, record sessions and national jingles, before returning to the Bluff City.<\/p>\n A sought-after arranger, Topper has played on numerous film soundtracks including\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019ve Got Mail,\u201d \u201cMeet Joe Black\u201d\u00a0and\u00a0\u201cAnalyze This\u201d\u00a0and recently worked on Memphis director Craig Brewer\u2019s\u00a0\u201cSong Sung Blue\u201d\u00a0soundtrack<\/a>.<\/p>\n As an acclaimed music educator, Topper has held positions at the East Harlem School of Music in New York, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of Memphis and was an NEA Grant recipient serving the Memphis public school system as Jazz Artist in Residence. He currently teaches Master Classes and Ensemble Instruction at the Memphis Jazz Workshop<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\nWhat is Gary Topper’s musical background?<\/h2>\n