Ted Curson - Ted Curson & Co. (1976) [vinyl]

The distinctive trumpeter Ted Curson is well showcased on this LP, a workout with a particularly strong quartet comprised of pianist Jim McNeely, bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Steve McCall. Curson stretches out on four of his originals (including the 12½-minute "Blue Piccolo") and "All the Things You Are." As usual his solos are both adventurous and (due to his appealing tone and roots in earlier styles of jazz) fairly accessible. Worth searching for. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

India Navigation, IN 1054, 1982
Recorded 1st July, 1976 at Vanguard Studios, New York City 

Musicians:
Ted Curson - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Pocket Trumpet
Jim McNeely - Piano
Cecil McBee - Bass
Steve McCall - Drums 

Tracks:
A1. Song Of The Lonely {Ted Curson} (8:01)
A2. Blue Piccolo {Ted Curson} (12:21)
B1. Open The Door [Dwackdi Mun Fudalick] {Ted Curson} (5:28)
B2. Playhouse March {Ted Curson} (7:06)
B3. All The Things You Are {Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II} (9:32) 

Total Time: 42:28 

Producer Bob Cummins under license from Trio Records.
This recording was previously released as "Blue Piccolo" on Why Not Records (Japan).

Ted Curson - I Heard Mingus (1980) [vinyl>flac]

Here we have rare and dynamic outing by the late great trumpeter Ted Curson. The title certainly informs the casual listener that he indeed spent some time with Charles Mingus. He is best known for his work with Charles Mingus' 1960 quartet (which also included Eric Dolphy, Booker Ervin and Dannie Richmond). An album to appreciate this fertile association is Mingus at Antibes recorded at a live 1960 performance at Juan-les-Pins and released in 1976. For this date Curson teams up with a very solid rhythm section. Mike Richmond really drives the group forward. There is plenty of room for both Ted and McNeely and Kawasaki to solo and develop some most active and energetic exchanges. Indeed the horn players in both Saxton and Morgenstein add to this strong if somewhat more freer performance than would be expected from such a crew. He essentially was an excellent and flexible trumpeter; personally I have always enjoyed Curson’s excursions into freer jazz formats. Pop Wine (1971) and Cattin' Curson (1973) are two such albums where he is joined by the mighty George Arvanitas Trio and Chris Woods. As always Ted can put together a beautiful ballad and a definite highlight is ‘Lost Her’, Enjoy!

Interplay Records, IP-7729, 1980

Recorded on 5^th January, 1980 at Sound Ideas Studios in New York City

Personnel:

Ted Curson - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Percussion, Piccolo Trumpet

Bill Saxton - Tenor Saxophone

Mike Morgenstien - Baritone Saxophone (#A2,B2)

Jim Mcneely - Piano (#A2,B1,B2)

Ryo Kawasaki - Guitar

Mike Richimond - Bass, Electric Bass

Adam Nussbaum - Drums

Montego Joe - Percussion (#A2,B2)

Track Listing:

A1. I Heard Mingus (9:04)

A2. Please, Please, Please Don't Put The Pigsfoot In The Kreplach Soup (9:18)

B1. Lost Her (9:54)

B2. Lin's Garden (7:54)

All Compositions by Ted Curson; joined by Graham Collier on (#B2)

Credits:

Producer - Toshiya Taenaka

Recording Engineer - David Baker

Graphic Design - Nancy Graham

Photos - Kaz Fujita

Ted Curson & Company - Jubilant Power (1976) [vinyl>flac]

This post is a tribute to Ted Curson who passed away early this month. RIP

Jubilant Power gives listeners an excellent sampling of the musical talents of Ted Curson. A versatile trumpeter who can play from straight ahead bop to free improvisations and anything in between, Ted Curson originally found some fame working with Charles Mingues in 1960. Jubilant Power, one of his finest recordings, was made 16 years later and has some of the type of inside/outside music that Curson made with Mingus. Curson is joined in a top-knotch sextet by baritonist Nick Brignola, altoist Chris Woods and either Andy LaVerne or Jim McNeely on piano and the result is adventurous hard-swinging music that clearly inspired all of the musicians. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG.

Slashing, dynamite exchanges, and an intense approach make this the Curson to grab. ~ Ron Wynn, AMG.

Inner City, IC 1017, 1976

Side A recorded 16th October, 1976 Live at Ethical Society in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Side B recorded 17th October, 1976 at Downtown Sound, New York City

Track Listing:

A1. Reava's Waltz {Ted Curson} (11:54)

A2. Ted's Tempo {Ted Curson} (8:54)

B1. Song Of The Lonely One [aka Ode To Booker Ervin] {Ted Curson} (7:33)

B2. Airi's Tune {Ted Curson} (6:15)

B3. Searching For The Blues {Ted Curson} (6:35)

B4. Marjo {Ted Curson} (5:41)

Personnel:

Ted Curson - Trumpet, Piccolo Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Cowbell

Chris Woods - Flute, Alto Saxophone

Nick Brignola - Saxcello, Baritone Saxophone

Andy LaVerne - Piano (Side A)

Jim McNeely - Piano (Side B)

David Friesen - Bass

Steve McCall - Drums (Side A)

Bob Merigliano - Drums (Side B)

Sam Jacobs - Conga

Ted Curson's Jubilant Power shows the modern jazz trumpeter in prime condition, very influenced by a stint with Charles Mingus, and exhorting his large ensemble to play music indicative of the title. This recording combines two live concert sessions from autumn of 1976 done on consecutive nights, the first in his native Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square, and the second at Downtown Sound in New York City. Curson assembled a dynamic and exuberant band with the baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola and saxophonist/flutist Chris Woods, bassist David Friesen, conga player Sam Jacobs, an exchange of pianists and drummers for each night, and different compositions. Side A has two tunes from the Philly sessions with AACM drumkit juggernaut Steve McCall and pianist Andy LaVerne in tow, making for a presence that gives the band a forceful persona. The hot free bop "Reava's Waltz" showcases Curson's post Lee Morgan/Freddie Hubbard sound with an edge perfectly, especially during his solid solo as the horns chime in on occasion. "Ted's Tempo" is a modal to hard bop scorcher, fluent, risky, but built like a brick wall. The four tracks from Side B in N.Y.C. have Jim McNeely on the 88s and Bob Merigliano playing drums, offering a generally softer focus. The straight ballad "Marjo" borrows from "Sophisticated Lady," while the midtempo "Song of the Lonely" has Friesen's emotionally drenched bass saturating the quote-riddled trumpeter, who most specifically channels the changes of "What's New?." The upbeat numbers include a popping Latin chart "Airi's Tune" with a rich horn accord, while the definitive "Searchin' the Blues" is straight out of the Mingus bag with its delightfully entertaining, spontaneous, quirky speed-ups and settled slow-downs in the melody. Because Ted Curson produced far too few recordings, and because the band is excellent, this has to rank as one of his best efforts, his modern jazz still sounding vital and fresh. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Allmusic.com.