Sugar 'n Spice

About the Artist
Ted Curson was born on June 3, 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up hearing and playing jazz with such greats as Percy, Jimmy and Toodie Heath, Bobby Timmons, McCoy Tyner, Henry Grimes and Lee Morgan. He studied at Granoff Musical Conservatory and at 17 decided to make his living playing jazz. This decision was based, in part, by seeing Clifford Brown perform in a Philly club (were Ted's date left him because he was more turned on by the music then her). In 1956, with the encouragement of Miles Davis, he moved to New York City. There he played regularly with Mal Waldron, Red Garland and Philly Joe Jones. Ted gained international recognition in 1960 as part of the Charles Mingus band (which, at the time, also featured Eric Dolphy). Besides his long solo career and his association with Mingus, Ted has also recorded with artists such as Cecil Taylor, Booker Ervin, and Andrew Hill. The PENGUIN GUIDE TO JAZZ describes Ted Curson as "a highly significant innovator" and JAZZ / THE ROUGH GUIDE states that his playing is always "pushing musical frontiers to their limits without losing touch with the roots of jazz". Ted has spent most of the last three decades touring Europe. For at least eight months out of every year he plays to wildly enthusiastic jazz fans in Finland, Sweden, France, Spain, Russia and all points in-between.

Band members are... Ted Curson (trumpet) Calvin Hill (bass) Bruce Cox (drums) Lenny Argese (guitar) Michael Cochrane (piano)

Product Description
Mr. Curson states, "This is my first album of straight bop recordings in a long, long time". "Sugar 'n Spice" is Ted Curson's 24th album since his first solo release in 1961. Mr. Curson started his professional career in the mid-50's. With the encouragement of Miles Davis, he moved to New York City and in 1960 came to international recognition as part of the Charles Mingus band (which, at the time, also featured Eric Dolphy). Ted Curson's "penetrating, muscular-toned trumpet style", as observed by DOWN BEAT, is found in abundance on this set of ten standards and originals. "With this whole album", says Mr. Curson, "I'm getting close to going full circle with my career. These are the kind of tunes that made me want to start playing jazz...way back...a long time ago." The straight-ahead jazz approach to "Sugar 'n Spice" gives Mr. Curson a chance to show his soulful as well as his swingin' side. Songs like the standard "Georgia" and the original "Marjo" just melt the listener until all that's left is a tender heart, while the cool funkiness of "Summertime" and the swinging blues of "Playhouse March" can find the jazz fan in anybody. "Sugar 'n Spice" is produced by Mr. Curson's long-time friend, Lenny Argese. Mr. Argese, who plays guitar on this session, is a member of the Spirit Of Life Ensemble, runs his own studio and has recorded with Joe Puma, Teddy Wilson and scores of others. The rest of the band bring along their own considerable credentials: Michael Cochrane (piano) has four solo albums and has recorded and toured with Sonny Fortune, Clark Terry, Michael Brecker and many others; Calvin Hill (bass) has played and done sessions with such legends as Max Roach, McCoy Tyner and Betty Carter; Bruce Cox (drums) toured with the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1980, and has recorded and toured with Fred Welsey, Pee Wee Ellis and Sonny Rollins.

Sugar 'n Spice,Ted Curson,Level Green,Jazz,Pop

Jazz Music: