In 1952, Teddy Charles, one of the foremost vibists in the jazz scene at the time, became one of the leaders in a new movement away from the cluttered closets of bop to a new and more serious developmenta synthesis of jazz and serious music. Early in 1953 he moved to the West Coast where he soon had ample opportunity to watch musical developments in the Coast and discover younger players like Frank Morgan, Sonny Clark and Lawrence Marable, who worked together for the first time on these recordings.
Later, the fortunate combination of Charles experience with the talents of Shorty Rogers, Shelly Manne, and Curtis Counce produced very effective, swinging jazz within a strikingly different medium. Hall Overton said: The challenge of the new materials serves as a spur to greater excitement. Charles reached a major achievement with these performances, that clearly established him as one of the important figures of the post bop transition period.
Tracklisting:
01. So Long Broadway (Charles) 3:08
02. Pauls Cause (Charles) 2:55
03. The Man I Love (Davis-Sherman-Ramirez) 3:07
04. Lavonne (Sonny Clark) 2:55
05. Variations On A Motive By Bud (Charles) 4:14
06. Wailing Dervish (Shorty Rogers) 4:25
07. Further Out (Charles) 5:35
08. Etudiez Le Cahier (Charles) 3:42
09. Free (Charles) 4:19
10. Evolution (Charles) 4:13
11. Margo (Charles) 4:47
12. Bobalob (Charles) 6:54
Personnel and dates:
Tracks #1-4: Teddy Charles Sextet
Teddy Charles (vib), Frank Morgan (as), Wardell Gray (ts), Sonny Clark (p), Dick Nivison (b), Lawrence Marable (d).
Recorded in Los Angeles, February 20, 1953
Tracks #5-8: Teddy Charles Quartet
Teddy Charles (vib), Shorty Rogers (tp), Curtis Counce (b), Shelly Manne (d).
Recorded in Los Angeles, August 21, 1953
Tracks #9-12: Teddy Charles Quintet
Teddy Charles (vib, p on #11), Shorty Rogers (tp), Jimmy Giuffre (ts, bs), Curtis Counce (b), Shelly Manne (d).
Recorded in Los Angeles, August 31, 1953
Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
