Ted Curson - In Paris - Live At The Sunside (2006)

Great live material from Ted Curson - a Parisian performance that features Ted with a range of different artists, really opening up in ways that show the full range of his tremendous talents! Paris always seems to bring out the best in Curson (we consider ourselves fortunate to have caught him there live years back, sharing a stage with Rufus Harley) – and this set shows Ted really taking full advantage of the opportunities the scene offers him. Some cuts are straight small combo jazz – with Ted's trumpet burning it up over backing from the trio of pianist Alain Jean-Marie. Other numbers add in a bit of backup vocals, behind Curson's own bluesy lead. And still others feature added alto, flute, and percussion – making for a further level of expression that we don't usually hear on an album from Ted. Curson's vocal performances are peppered throughout the double-length set – and almost seem to be more crowd pleasing moments, where he might be expected to warble a standard for the overseas audience – but they do have a sort of charm, given the raspy style of singing – and one number, a hip take on "Summertime", is actually a funky groover that really makes happy that Ted decided to sing along (he gets some help on that number from soulful Sylvia Howard, too!) Titles include "Reava's Waltz", "Tears For Dolphy", "Caravan", "Dig", "Round Midnight", "Milestones", "Confirmation", "Cantaloupe Island", and "Pilma Boogie". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Blue Marge, 1009, 2007

Recorded 30^th & 31^st August, 2006 Live at Sunside in Paris, France

Personnel:

Ted Curson - Trumpet, Piccolo Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Flute, Vocals

Alain Jean-Marie - Piano
Gilles Naturel - Bass

Philippe Soirat - Drums

Other Players:

Pierrick Pédron - Alto Saxophone [CD1: 1,3,5,7,8 & CD2: 1,3,5,7,8,9]

Guillaume Naturel - Flute [CD1: 2 & CD2: 3

Julie Saury - Percussion [CD1: 1,7 & CD2 3,6]

Voice Solos:

Daiva Starinsakite [CD1: 4]

Evrim Özsuca [CD2: 4,6,7]

Ferhat Öz [CD1: 4,6 & CD2: 2,6,7]

Jaanika Ventsel [CD1: 2,6 & CD2: 6]

Silvia Howard [CD2: 9]

Track Listing:

CD1:

1. Caravan {Juan Tizol, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills} (8:43)

2. Tears For Dolphy {Ted Curson} (8:12)

3. Dig {Miles Davis} (9:06)

4. 'Round About Midnight {Thelonious Monk} (8:54)

5. Woody 'N' You {Dizzy Gillespie} (11:33)

6. Georgia On My Mind {Hoagy Carmichael} (6:56)

7. Cantaloupe Island {Herbie Hancock} (8:06)

8. Plima Boogie {Ted Curson} (4:18)

Time: 1:05:48

CD2:

1. Reava's Waltz {Ted Curson} (7:27)

2. Blueberry Hill {Fats Domino} (5:45)

3. Tin Tin Deo {Dizzy Gillespie} (13:28)

4. Lover Man {Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez, James Sherman} (6:28)

5. Milestones {Miles Davis} (7:12)

6. Summertime {George Gershwin, DuBose Heyward} (6:35)

7. Cherokee {Ray Noble} (10:21)

8. Confirmation {Charlie Parker} (7:01)

9. Blues Medley {Various} (9:06)

Time: 1:13:23

Credits:

Producer - Gérard Terronès

Coordinator - Marianne Fernel

Recording, Mixing, Editing, Mastering - Alain Gandolfi

Design, Graphics - Fasm

Photography - Jacquie Dauvilliers-Morat

Liner Notes, Translation - Jean Szlamowicz

This two CD set contains over two hours of wonderfully entertaining jazz from the indefatigable Curson, 71 years old when recorded live in August of 2006. The fiery trumpeter whose early career associations included Cecil Taylor, Charles Mingus and Eric Dolphy, and then later established a notable presence on the European jazz scene, introduces us to some very talented but lesser known overseas musicians.

Pierrick Pédron is a formidable bebop altoist out of the Cannonball Adderley school, with a tone sometimes approaching the rawness of Vincent Herring. He plays with endless drive, polished technique and great clarity. Pianist Alain Jean-Marie has an absorbing, sophisticated style resembling that of Barry Harris. Bassist Gilles Naturel and drummer Philippe Soirat prove to be solid and tasteful in support, and Naturel’s lucid solos are quite effective. His brother Guillaume exhibits a pure, warm tone and nimble fingering on flute. Julie Saury, daughter of clarinetist Maxim, contributes engaging solos on congas and bongos. Sylvia Howard sings her heart out alongside Curson in a “Blues Medley.” That leaves the vocal choir, Ferhat Öz, Evrim Özsuca, Daiva Starinskaite and Jaanika Ventsel, four young singers that Curson discovered during a singing competition at the Nõmme Jazz Festival in Estonia. They all sing with great feeling, verve and individuality.

Curson himself plays with much spirit and creativity, and also sings up a storm in a blues-drenched, ingratiating voice. The program ranges from Curson’s own “Tears for Dolphy” and “Reava’s Waltz,” to many jazz classics and standards such as “Caravan,” “Dig,” “’Round About Midnight,” “Woody ’n’ You,” “Tin Tin Deo,” “Milestones,” “Cherokee,” “Confirmation,” “Georgia On My Mind,” “Lover Man” and even “Blueberry Hill.” Referring to Mingus, Curson is quoted as saying, “The older I get, the more I begin to look like my master and even act like him.” Mingus would certainly have appreciated this ambitious project, and the gusto and humor with which it’s delivered. ~ by Scott Albin, JazzTimes.