Tonight The Jazz Show celebrates the birthday of Theodore Charles Cohen better known as Teddy Charles. Teddy began his career as a drummer but became and accomplished pianist and writer and perfected what was to become his main instrument, the vibraphone (vibes). Teddy formed this band called simply "The Teddy Charles Tentet" in mid 1955. They triumphed at the Newport Jazz Festival in that year and Teddy was able to keep the band working with very few personnel changes. They went into Atlantic Record's studio in January of 1956 and recorded what is arguably Teddy's most important album and non-arguably a "desert Island" Jazz classic. The Tentet is made up of Art Farmer on trumpet, Gigi Gryce on alto, J.R.Monterose on tenor and George Barrow or Sol Schlinger on baritone. Don Butterfield on tuba, Jimmy Raney on guitar, Mal Waldron on piano, Teddy Kotick on bass and Joe Harris on drums and of course Mr. Teddy Charles on vibes. There are two compositions and one arrangement of a standard by Teddy and one composition each by Mal Waldron, Jimmy Giuffre, Gil Evans and George Russell. All in all one of the essential Modern Jazz recordings and a good way to say Happy Birthday to Teddy Charles!
