The
first half of this release is from the same session that resulted in
Ted Curson's Tears for Dolphy. The three selections (performed by the
trumpeter in a pianoless quartet with tenor saxophonist Bill Barron,
bassist Herb Bushler and drummer Dick Berk) are of the same high
quality as the other cuts, highlighted by Curson's "Searchin'
for the Blues." The second half of the program features Curson
with the Zagreb Radio Orchestra at the 1966 Yugoslavian Jazz
Festival. Zita Carno provided the arrangements to three of the
trumpeter's originals (including "Quicksand" and "Flip
Top") and Curson plays (in his own words) with "one foot in
avant-garde, one foot in mainstream." A recommended and
consistently stimulating release. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
Seventies
reissue of two sets of sparkling material from one of Ted Curson's
best periods ever! Side one is classic Ted Curson/Bill Barron quartet
stuff, with the two of them swinging, going out, and then hitting the
money back again. Side two is some rare Eastern European stuff with a
large group, and includes great workings of "Quicksand" and
"Straight Ice", two of our favorite tracks by him! © Dusty
Groove America, Inc.
Ted's
audience now is young, something that continually surprises him. His
music is so vital especially now, so many of Ted's constituents have
died during his tenure (he will be 42 this year). The death of Booker
Ervin is something Ted will never get over. The drug scene has eluded
him totally for the simple reason that Ted thinks of his body as a
shrine, his influences were Johnny Splawn, Clifford Brown and Miles
Davis' lyricism. Charles Mingus was definitely the pivot point in his
career, every musician around would listen to that band. With all the
frustration Ted has gone through his positive attitude prevails.
Although he hasn't reflected on what is happening to him now, he is
really wired! "I like this album even better than my new one,
because it seems to me that I'm getting closer to that big band
sound". Ted is definitely ahead of his time and knows it, but
with the release of this LP, the pieces finally fit. ~ Extract from
Liner Notes by Mary Lou Webb, 1977
Arista/Freedom,
AL 1030, 1977
Side
A:
Tracks:
A1.
Searchin' For The Blues {Ted Curson} (7:43)
A2.
Desolation {Bill Barron} (8:42)
A3.
Light Blue {Bill Barron} (3:40)
Musicians:
Ted
Curson - Trumpet
Bill
Barron - Tenor Saxophone
Herb
Bushler - Bass
Dick
Berk - Drums
Recorded
1st August, 1964 at Acousti Studio, Paris, France
Side
B:
Tracks:
B1.
Quicksand {Ted Curson} (6:17)
B2.
Straight Ice {Ted Curson} (4:59)
B3.
Flip Top {Ted Curson} (4:19)
Personnel:
Ted
Curson - Trumpet
with
Unnamed Members of The Zagreb Radio Orchestra
Miljenko
Prohaska - Conductor
Arranger
- Zita Carno
Recorded
at the Seventh Yugoslavia Jazz Festival, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia
Date:
Summer 1966
Label:
[Private Recording]
Credits:
Producer
- Alan Bates
Additional
Production - Michael Cuscuna
Cover
Art - Guy Billout
Photography
- David Gahr
Art
Direction - Bob Heimall
