Chubby Jackson (ldr), Norman Faye, Al Porcino, Charlie Walp (t), Mario Daone, Rob Swope (tb), Frankie Socolow (as), Al Epstein, Ray Turner (ts), Marty Flax [Flachsenhaar] (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), Gene DiNovi (p), Curly Russell (b), Tiny Kahn (d, v), Joe Harris (cng), Paula Castle (v)

Joe Harris (cng) on a, d; Paula Castle (v) on c; Tiny Kahn (v) on d.

The shout chorus arrangement on "Tiny's Blues" has been credited to Al Cohn.

Soloists:
Track a - Faye, Socolow, Turner, DiNovi
Track b - Charles, Flax, Epstein. Socolow, Turner, Walp, Porcino
Track c - Castle, Turner, Castle
Track d - Kahn (v, scats theme), Socolow, Swope, Walp, Charles, DiNovi, Kahn (v, scats theme)

Chubby Jackson (ldr), Norman Faye, Al Porcino, Charlie Walp (t), Mario Daone, Rob Swope (tb), Frankie Socolow (as), Al Epstein, Ray Turner (ts), Marty Flax [Flachsenhaar] (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), Gene DiNovi (p), Red Kelly (b), Tiny Kahn (d), Joe Harris (cng), Chubby Jackson (con, v), Paula Castle, unknown (v)

Joe Harris (cng) on a, d; Paula Castle (v) on c; Chubby Jackson (v) on a; unknown (v) on a.

Soloists:
Track a - Socolow (in progress), Swope, Epstein, DiNovi, Charles
Track b - Charles, Flax, Socolow, Turner, Walp, Porcino
Track c - Castle, Turner, Castle
Track d - Socolow, Walp, Swope, Turner (fade out)

Chubby Jackson (ldr), Norman Faye, Al Porcino, Charlie Walp (t), Mario Daone, Rob Swope (tb), Frankie Socolow (as), Al Epstein, Ray Turner (ts), Marty Flax [Flachsenhaar] (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), Gene DiNovi (p), Red Kelly (b), Tiny Kahn (d), Joe Harris (bo, cng), Chubby Jackson (con, v), Paula Castle, unknown (v)

Joe Harris (bo) on f, (cng) on b; Paula Castle (v) on d; Chubby Jackson (v) on e; unknown (v) on e.

The announcer is Symphony Sid Torin. "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid" is not listed on the LP. It is just a short version including Sid's spoken introduction leading into "Tiny's Blues." Track c is listed as "Father Knickerbocker" on the LP. The identity of the scat vocalist on track e assisting Jackson is not known.

The notes to the 2000 Mosaic Records compilation, The Complete Capitol Recordings of Woody Herman indicate that "Boomsie" is the same blues line as "That's Right" recorded by Herman on December 29, 1948. This is not true. While the two blues have some similarities, they are definitely not identical. The ASCAP database shows a composition by Shorty Rogers called "That's Right." Since Rogers arranged the title for Herman, Rogers is most likely also the composer of the song recorded for Capitol and not Candoli-Socolow-Jackson as indicated in the Mosaic set.

Soloists:
Track b - Faye, Socolow, Swope, Flax, Walp, Epstein, Charles, Turner, DiNovi
Track c - Charles, Flax, Epstein/Turner (exchanges), Walp, Porcino
Track d - Castle, Turner (behind vocal)
Track e - DiNovi, Jackson (v), Walp, Socolow, Swope, Turner, DiNovi, Charles
Track f - Charles, Faye, Socolow, Turner, Swope, Walp, Flax, Epstein and Turner

Chubby Jackson (ldr), Norman Faye, Al Porcino, Charlie Walp (t), Mario Daone, Rob Swope (tb), Frankie Socolow (as), Al Epstein, Ray Turner (ts), Marty Flax [Flachsenhaar] (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), Gene DiNovi (p), Red Kelly (b), Tiny Kahn (d, v), Joe Harris (bo, cng), Chubby Jackson (con, v), Paula Castle (v)

Joe Harris (bo) on d-g, (cng) on b; Paula Castle (v) on e; Chubby Jackson (v) on f; Tiny Kahn (v) on f.

On the LP: Track g is not listed; track e is listed as "When You Love So Well"; track c is listed as "Father Knickerbocker." Track a is a fragment of the band's theme leading into "Tiny's Blues."

Soloists:
Track b - DiNovi, Faye, Socolow, Swope, Flax, Walp, Epstein, Charles, Turner, DiNovi
Track c - Charles, Flax, Socolow, Epstein, Turner, Walp, Porcino
Track d - DiNovi, Socolow, Walp, Flax, Faye, Epstein, Charles, Swope, Turner, DiNovi
Track e - Castle
Track f - Kahn (v), Socolow, Swope, Walp, Charles, Turner, Charles, DiNovi, Kahn (v)
Track g - Charles, Walp, Socolow, Turner, Swope, DiNovi (fade out as Sid sends the broadcast back to the studio)

Chubby Jackson (ldr), Norman Faye, Dale Pierce, Red Rodney (t), Mario Daone, Rob Swope (tb), Frankie Socolow (as), Al Epstein, Ray Turner (ts), Marty Flax [Flachsenhaar] (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), Red Mitchell (p, b), Chubby Jackson (b, con), Red Kelly (b), Tiny Kahn (d), Joe Harris (cng)

The date and location of this live performance are not certain.

Soloists: Jackson (b), Kelly (b), Mitchell (b)

Buddy DeFranco (ldr), Buddy DeFranco (cl), Teddy Charles (vib), Jimmy Raney (g), Harvey Leonard (p), Bob Carter (b), Max Roach (d)

Soloists:
Track a - DeFranco, Raney, DeFranco
Track b - DeFranco
Track c - Raney, DeFranco, Leonard, Charles
Track d - DeFranco, Raney, Charles, DeFranco
Track e - Raney, Charles, DeFranco

Florence Wright (ldr), Stan Webb (ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Mundell Lowe (g), Howard Biggs (p), Al Hall (b), Florence Wright (v)

The disc labels (see below), somewhat surprisingly, indicate that Teddy Charles plays drums as well as vibraphone and that Stan Webb plays bass clarinet as well as tenor saxophone. This cannot be confirmed until the tracks have been auditioned.

Buddy DeFranco (ldr), Bernie Glow, Don Joseph, Dickie Mills, Dale Pierce (t), Frank Lane, Al Robertson, Fred Zito (tb), Andy Cicalese, Gene Quill (as), Buddy Arnold, Eddie Wasserman (ts), Danny Bank (bar), Buddy DeFranco (cl), Teddy Charles (vib), Teddy Corabi (p), Bill Anthony (b), Frank DeVito (d), Bonnie Richards (v)

Bonnie Richards (v) on c.

Teddy Charles solos on track a. Some sources indicate that "Body and Soul" was recorded on February 19, 1951 and that this session included a tune called "Rumpus Room." The information shown is taken from the Ruppli-Novitski MGM Label Discography and appears correct based on the sequence of matrix numbers.

Teddy Charles (ldr), Teddy Charles (vib), Don Roberts (g), Kenny O'Brien (b)

New Jazz 78 No. 838 was issued as "The Teddy Cohen Trio" with Teddy Cohen on vibes. Teddy Charles was born Theodore Charles Cohen.

Soloists:
Track b - Charles, Roberts, O'Brien
Tracks c, d, f, h - Charles
Tracks g, j - Charles, Roberts
Track i - Roberts, Charles

Teddy Charles (ldr), Teddy Charles (vib), Jimmy Raney (g), Dick Nivison (b), Ed Shaughnessy (d)

Soloists:
Track a - Raney, Charles
Tracks b-c - no inprovised solos
Track d - Charles, Raney, Nivison/Shaughnessy

Teddy Charles (ldr), Teddy Charles (vib, mar, x, glk), Hall Overton (p), Ed Shaughnessy (d)

This is arguably the most avant-garde of the Teddy Charles New Directions series. It is very difficult to determine which portions of this music are written and which are improvised and the music has the character of a contemporary percussion ensemble. About these unusual recordings, Ira Gitler wrote in the liner notes to Prestige 150: "Each piece has a different shape based on a preconceived structure just as 'head' arrangements are. Each structure is divided into sections, and specific thematic material is devised for each section, but the final working out of this material depends on the most sensitive kind of rapport between the performers."

Teddy Charles (ldr), Frank Morgan (as), Wardell Gray (ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Sonny Clark (p), Dick Nivison (b), Larance Marable (d)

Howard Rumsey (ldr), Bob Cooper, Stan Getz (ts), Jimmy Giuffre (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), Russ Freeman (p), Howard Rumsey (b), Shelly Manne (d)

Bob Cooper (ts) on b, d-f; Stan Getz (ts) on a-b, d-f; Jimmy Giuffre (bar) on b-f; Teddy Charles (vib) on b, d-f.

On the last chorus of track d, the ensemble plays "Apple Core," Gerry Mulligan's line based on the chord changes of "Love Me Or Leave Me."

Soloists:
Track a - Getz, Getz/Manne (4-bar exchanges)
Track b - Freeman (intro), Getz, Charles, Giuffre, Cooper, Freeman, Getz, Freeman
Track c - Getz, Giuffre
Track d - Freeman (intro), Giuffre, Getz, Charles, Cooper, Freeman, Getz
Track e - Getz, Charles, Giuffre, Cooper, Freeman
Track f - Giuffre, Charles, Cooper, Freeman, Getz

Teddy Charles (ldr), Chet Baker, Shorty Rogers (t), Jimmy Giuffre (ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Howard Roberts (g), Russ Freeman (p), Curtis Counce (b), Shelly Manne (d)

Chet Baker (t) on a; Shorty Rogers (t) on a; Jimmy Giuffre (ts) on a; Russ Freeman (p) on a.

This was a concert recorded by Cecil Charles Spiller and has not been auditioned by me. The information comes from West Coast Jazz authority Jim Harrod.

Teddy Charles (ldr), Shorty Rogers (t), Teddy Charles (vib), Curtis Counce (b), Shelly Manne (d)

Shorty Rogers is listed as "Jolly Roger" on Prestige PRLP 164.

Soloists (Note: these tracks have much simultaneous improvisation by Charles and Rogers; the following is a rough outline):
Track a - Rogers/Charles, Charles, Rogers, Counce, Charles
Track b - Charles, Rogers, Manne (call and response), Charles/Rogers
Track c - Rogers, Charles
Track d - Charles, Rogers

Teddy Charles (ldr), Shorty Rogers (t), Jimmy Giuffre (ts, bar), Teddy Charles (vib, p), Curtis Counce (b), Shelly Manne (d)

Jimmy Giuffre (ts) on a-c, (bar) on d; Teddy Charles (vib) on a-b, d, (p) on c.

Track d is a combination of two takes.

Soloists (Note: the composed and improvised sections of these tracks are closely intertwined; the following is a rough outline):
Track a - Giuffre (ts), Charles (vib), Rogers
Track b - Giuffre (ts), Charles/Giuffre, Rogers
Track c - Charles (p), Giuffre (ts), Rogers, Charles (p), Giuffre (ts)
Track d - Giuffre (bar), Rogers, Charles (vib), Charles (vib), Giuffre (bar), Rogers, Counce

Teddy Charles (ldr), Bob Brookmeyer (vtb, p), Teddy Charles (vib), Teddy Kotick (b), Ed Shaughnessy (d), Nancy Overton (v)

Bob Brookmeyer (vtb) on a-c, (p) on c-d; Nancy Overton (v) on b.

The issue of track b on Prestige 78 No. 889 is edited with a timing of 2:12; the vibraphone and valve trombone solos are deleted resulting in a performance of essentially one chorus. Many thanks to Geoff Wheeler for noting this. Nancy Overton's "vocal" on this track is a dramatic recitation of the lyrics.

Soloists (Note: these tracks have much simultaneous improvisation by Charles and Brookmeyer; the following is a rough outline):
Track a - Brookmeyer (vtb)/Charles, Brookmeyer (vtb), Kotick, Charles/Brookmeyer (vtb)
Track b - Overton, Charles, Brookmeyer
Track c - Brookmeyer (vtb), Charles, Brookmeyer (p), Kotick (walking), Charles/Shaughnessy (4-bar exchanges)
Track d - Brookmeyer (p, intro), Brookmeyer (p), Charles, Shaughnessy

Sonny Terry (ldr), Sonny Terry (h, v), Teddy Charles (vib), Brownie McGhee (g), Lee Stanfield (b), Marty Wilson (d)

Sonny Terry discographer Chris Smith reports that the matrix number of Louise shown (3507) is from an inspected copy of the issue. This differs from that given in standard discographies (3501) and suggests that more than the four tracks listed may have been recorded at this session. The matrix numbers of the unissued titles are untraced. Groove was a subsidiary of RCA Victor.

Mundell Lowe (ldr), Teddy Charles (vib, cel), Mundell Lowe, Sal Salvador (g), Kenny O'Brien (b), Ed Shaughnessy (d)

Teddy Charles (vib) on b, (cel) on a.

Teddy Charles is listed as "Stix Kahn" on the LP. No vibraphone can be heard on track a but rather, a celeste which is not credited in the LP liner notes. Charles remembered playing this instrument on the recording session. Discographies indicate that Charles performs on other tracks of the LP recorded in March of 1954; however, the personnel assignments given in the LP liner notes reveal his presence only on these two tracks.

Earl Bostic (ldr), Blue Mitchell, Eldridge Morris (t), Earl Bostic (as), Benny Golson (ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Jimmy Shirley (g), Stash O'Laughlin (p), George Tucker (b), Granville T. Hogan (Wllbert Hogan; G.T. Hogan) (d)

Blue Mitchell (t) on a-b, d; Eldridge Morris (t) on a-b, d; Benny Golson (ts) on a-b, d.

It should be noted that versions of some of the above titles which appear on the King stereo LPs 529 (Let's Dance With Earl Bostick) and 503 (Bostic For You) and the corresponding CD reissues KCD-529 and KCD-503 were actually recorded in March and June of 1959 with completely different ensembles. It should also be noted that the version of "Liebestraum" on See For Miles SEECD 720 is not the one from this session as claimed on the CD insert but rather, the stereo remake of June 10, 1959 with different personnel. I have not confirmed that track d is, in fact, the take issued on Definitive DRCD 11295. No horns other than that of Bostic are audible on track c.

Earl Bostic (ldr), Blue Mitchell, Eldridge Morris (t), Earl Bostic (as), Benny Golson (ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Jimmy Shirley (g), Stash O'Laughlin (p), George Tucker (b), Granville T. Hogan (Wllbert Hogan; G.T. Hogan) (d), Sonny Carter (v)

Blue Mitchell (t) on c-d; Eldridge Morris (t) on c-d; Benny Golson (ts) on c-d; Sonny Carter (v) on c-d.

It should be noted that versions of titles a and b which appear on the King stereo LPs 503 (Bostic for You - also CD reissue KCD 503) and 525 (Dance Time), respectively, were actually recorded in March of 1959 with completely different ensembles. No horns other than that of Bostic are audible on tracks a and b. I have not confirmed that track b is, in fact, the take issued on Definitive DRCD 11295. Tracks c and d were originally issued under vocalist Sonny Carter's name.

Teddy Charles (ldr), J.R. Monterose (ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Charles Mingus (b), Jerry Segal (d)

This session may have been recorded on January 7, 1955. There is a discrepancy between the logs of Prestige Records (Jan. 6) and those of the engineer Rudy Van Gelder (Jan. 7).

Soloists:
Track a - Segal (intro), Monterose (head bridge), Charles, Monterose, Mingus
Track b - Charles (intro), Monterose, Charles, Monterose
Track c - Segal (intro), Charles, Monterose
Track d - Mingus, Charles, Monterose
Track e - Charles
Track f - Charles, Mingus, Monterose

Earl Bostic (ldr), Johnny Coles, Elmon Wright (t), Earl Bostic (as), Benny Golson (ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Jimmy Shirley (g), Stash O'Laughlin (p), George Tucker (b), Granville T. Hogan (Wllbert Hogan; G.T. Hogan) (d), Sonny Carter (v)

Sonny Carter (v) on g.

It should be noted that versions of titles a-f which appear on the King stereo LP 515 (Alto-Tude) were actually recorded in June of 1959 with completely different ensembles. I have not confirmed that tracks b and d are, in fact, the takes issued on Definitive DRCD 11295.

Earl 'Connelly' King (ldr), Henry Glover (t), Johnny Burdine (ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Mickey Baker (g), Leo Spann (b), Emmanuel Sims (d), Earl 'Connelly' King (v)

Robert 'Bubber' Johnson (ldr), David Van Dyke (ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Mickey Baker (g), Robert 'Bubber' Johnson (p, v), Wendell Marshall (b), Thomas J. Hunter (d), Others Unknown (var)

The personnel are incomplete. Unknown backup singers, a harpist, reeds and a string section are present on this session.

Ralph Sharon (ldr), J.R. Monterose (ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Joe Puma (g), Ralph Sharon (p), Charles Mingus (b), Kenny Clarke (d)

J.R. Monterose is incorrectly listed as "Jack Montrose" and "J.R. Montrose" on the London LP jacket and his instrument is also wrongly listed as alto sax. Track j is listed as "Can't Get Out Of This Dream" on the LP jacket. A bongo drum is audible on track e which may be a simulation produced by Puma's guitar. The correct track order is as shown above (side 1: tracks a-f; side 2: tracks g-l) and not that given on the back of the LP jacket. Fresh Sound CD 320 was issued under J.R. Monterose's name and is a collection of tracks from several sessions on which he was present.

Soloists:
Track a - Monterose, Charles, Sharon
Track b - Sharon, Mingus (coda)
Track c - Monterose, Sharon, Puma, Charles
Track d - Monterose
Track e - Sharon
Track f - Mingus (head bridge), Charles, Puma, Monterose, Sharon, Mingus (last bridge)
Track g - Monterose, Charles, Puma, Sharon, Mingus, Clarke
Track h - Puma, Charles, Monterose, Sharon
Track i - Charles, Puma, Sharon, Monterose
Track j - Sharon
Track k - Sharon, Monterose, Puma
Track l - Monterose, Charles, Puma, Sharon

Miles Davis (ldr), Miles Davis (t), Britt Woodman (tb), Teddy Charles (vib), Charles Mingus (b), Elvin Jones (d)

This session has been incorrectly listed in most sources, including the CD reissues, as having been recorded on July 9, 1955 at Rudy Van Gelder's studio. The version of track a on Sony SK 51337 is edited.

Soloists:
Track a - Davis, Mingus
Track b - Davis, Charles, Mingus
Track c - Davis, Charles, Mingus, Woodman, Davis/Jones (4-bar exchanges)
Track d - Davis, Charles, Davis

Earl 'Connelly' King (ldr), David Van Dyke (ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Mickey Baker (g), Robert 'Bubber' Johnson (p), Wendell Marshall (b), Specs Powell (d), Earl 'Connelly' King (v)

Robert 'Bubber' Johnson (ldr), David Van Dyke (ts), Betty Glamann (hrp), Teddy Charles (vib), Mickey Baker (g), Arnold Jarvis (p), Wendell Marshall (b), Specs Powell (d), Robert 'Bubber' Johnson (v), Others Unknown (var)

The personnel are incomplete. Unidentified additional reeds, backup vocalists and strings are present on this session.

Charles Mingus (ldr), Art Farmer (t), Eddie Bert, Britt Woodman (tb), John La Porta (as, cl), Teo Macero (ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Mal Waldron (p), Charles Mingus (b), Elvin Jones (d)

Art Farmer (t) on a-c, e-h; Eddie Bert (tb) on a-c, e-h; Britt Woodman (tb) on a-c, e-h; Teo Macero (ts) on a-c, e-h; John La Porta (cl) on a-c, e-h; Teddy Charles (vib) on a-c, e-h; Mal Waldron (p) on a-c, e-h; Elvin Jones (d) on a-c, e-h.

This performance was a Voice of America radio broadcast which has, apparently, never been issued. It was part of a panel discussion Jazz from the Inside Out on Sunday afternoon of the 1955 Newport Jazz Festival. Tapes of this event are stored at the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress documentation indicates a title "Sounds of April" which is most likely a misidentification of Teo Macero's composition "Sounds of May." An online Charles Mingus discography lists "Non-sectarian" as one of the tracks performed but this title is not among those given in the Library of Congress documentation. Track d is a Mingus/LaPorta duet. I have not auditioned these performances.

Teddy Charles (ldr), Art Farmer (t), Don Butterfield (tu), Gigi Gryce (as), J.R. Monterose (ts), George Barrow (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), Jimmy Raney (g), Mal Waldron (p), Teddy Kotick (b), Joe Harris (d)

Art Farmer was listed on the original LP issue (Atlantic 1229) as "Peter Urban."

Lavern Baker (ldr), John Barrows (fh), Sam 'The Man' Taylor (ts), Dave McRae (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), George Barnes (g), Ernie Hayes (p), Lloyd Trotman (b), Panama Francis (d), Jimmy Breedlove (w, bkv), Eddie Barnes, Abel De Costa, Ollie Jones, Robie Kirk (bkv), Lavern Baker (v)

Jimmy Breedlove (w) on c.

The backup vocal quintet was known as The Gliders and also as The Cues. I have found one source that indicates Teddy Charles was also present on the Atlantic Lavern Baker session of December 21, 1955 that produced "Jim Dandy," "Mine All Mine," "My Happiness Forever" and "Fee Fi Fo Fum" but this is as yet unconfirmed.

Teddy Charles (ldr), Art Farmer (t), Don Butterfield (tu), Gigi Gryce (as), J.R. Monterose (ts), George Barrow (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), Jimmy Raney (g), Mal Waldron (p), Teddy Kotick (b), Joe Harris (d)

Art Farmer was listed on the original LP issue (Atlantic 1229) as "Peter Urban."

Teddy Charles (ldr), Art Farmer (t), Don Butterfield (tu), Gigi Gryce (as), J.R. Monterose (ts), Sol Schlinger (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), Jimmy Raney (g), Mal Waldron (p), Teddy Kotick (b), Joe Harris (d)

Art Farmer was listed on the original LP issue (Atlantic 1229) as "Peter Urban." The improvisations on track b are based on the chord sequence of “Sweet Georgia Brown.” The drum solos on track a are mostly written out in Waldron’s score. Track d has not been auditioned.

Jimmy Tyler (ldr), Jimmy Tyler (as, ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Mickey Baker (g), Andy Gibson (p), Abie Baker (b), Cliff Leeman (d)

Tracks a and c have not been auditioned. Tyler plays alto saxophone on track b and tenor saxophone on track d.

Thad Jones (t), Eddie Bert (tb), Lee Konitz (as), Al Cohn, Zoot Sims (ts), Serge Chaloff (bar), Tony Scott (cl), Teddy Charles (vib), Tal Farlow (g), Billy Taylor (p), Charles Mingus (b), Art Blakey (d)

The rest of this album features the Count Basie Band, Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald and George Wallington. An unissued take of Billie's Bounce, without Thad Jones, apparently exists.

Solo Order: Blakey, Mingus (walking), Sims, Bert, Chaloff, Mingus, Charles, Scott, Taylor, Cohn, Farlow, Konitz, Blakey, Jones, Mingus (walking)

Teddy Charles (ldr), Jon Eardley (t), Don Butterfield (tu), Gigi Gryce (as), Hal Stein (ts), George Barrow (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), Barry Galbraith (g), Hall Overton (p), Addison Farmer (b), Ed Shaughnessy (d), David Broekman (con)

David Broekman (con) on f.

Tapes of this Voice of America broadcast are held at the Library of Congress. The improvisations on track a are based on a 40-bar (16+16+8) form. The improvisations on track e are based on the chord sequence of “Sweet Georgia Brown.”

Alonzo Levister (ldr), Louis Mucci (t), John La Porta (as, cl), Lorin Bernsohn (vc), Teddy Charles (vib, per, bo), Arne Gold (x, per), Alonzo Levister (p), Morris Lang (tmp), Jackson Wiley (con)

Louis Mucci (t) on b-h; John La Porta (as) on a-b, g, (cl) on c-f, h; Teddy Charles (vib) on b, e, (per) on a-b, d, f-h, (bo) on c; Arne Gold (x) on d, f-h, (per) on a-c; Morris Lang (tmp) on a-b, d-h.

This fascinating session is perhaps best characterized as jazz-influenced, contemporary chamber music. Most of the solo sections seem written out but Teddy Charles's vibraphone solo on track e sounds improvised.

Jimmy Giuffre (ldr), Jimmy Giuffre (cl), Teddy Charles (vib), Percy Heath (b), Connie Kay (d)

Solo order: Charles, Giuffre

Teddy Charles (ldr), Art Farmer (t), Eddie Bert (tb), Jim Buffington (frh), Don Butterfield (tu), Hal Stein (as), Bob Newman (ts), George Barrow (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), Jimmy Raney (g), Hall Overton (p), Addison Farmer (b), Ed Shaughnessy (d)

Eddie Bert (tb) on a; Jim Buffington (frh) on a.

Teddy Charles (ldr), Teddy Charles (vib), Hall Overton (p), Charles Mingus (b), Ed Shaughnessy (d)

Apparently, all titles were recorded on this date even though the matrix numbers are not in sequence and suggest two different sessions. Track d fades out during the bass solo.

Soloists:
Track a - Charles
Track c - Charles
Track d - Shaughnessy (intro), Charles, Mingus
Track e - Charles, Overton, Mingus, Charles/Shaughnessy (4-bar exchanges)

Gil Melle (ldr), Art Farmer (t), Hal McKusick (as), unknown (ts), Gil Melle (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), Vinnie Burke (b), Ed Thigpen (d)

These 3 tracks were never issued on the original LP, Prestige 7063 and apparently destined for an LP that was never completed. The personnel have generated much controversy. Here is an historical summary:
1. Donald Byrd (t), Phil Woods (as), Gil Melle (bar), Joe Cinderella (g), Vinnie Burke (b), Ed Thigpen (d)
This lineup appears first in:
(a) Jepsen's Jazz Records 1942-1962 (1963) and repeated in:
(b) Ruppli's Prestige Records Discography, 1972 and 1980 editions;
(c) Bruyninckx Discography, 1977 and 1987 editions;
(d) Liner notes to Prestige OJCCD-1753-2 (1990).
2. The Lord Discography (1996 print edition) shows: Art Farmer (t), Hal McKusick (as), poss. Seldon Powell (ts), Gil Melle (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), poss. George Duvivier (b), poss. Shadow Wilson (d).
3. Personnel provided by Gil Melle in a 1999 interview with Rudy Van Gelder historian Dan Skea: Art Farmer (t), Hal McKusick (as), Zoot Sims (ts), Gil Melle (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), Joe Cinderella (g), Vinnie Burke (b), Ed Thigpen (d). Melle was particularly emphatic about the presence of Sims and Charles and frustrated by their omission from the Original Jazz Classics CD liner notes.
4. Personnel in the Bruyninckx Discography, 2004 pdf edition - same as 2.
5. Personnel shown on Fresh Sound FSR-CD 479_2 (2008) and in the Lord Discography, current online version (2009): Art Farmer (t), Hal McKusick (as), Seldon Powell (ts), Gil Melle (bar), Teddy Charles (vib), George Duvivier (b), Shadow Wilson (d).

After being troubled by this session for years, I recently (August 2009) have revisited it in an attempt to definitively identify the participants. Unfortunately, that goal remains elusive. Nonetheless, here are some of my conclusions:
1. The early information, repeated on the 1990 CD reissue, is wrong. A vibraphone and tenor sax are clearly audible and the trumpeter and alto saxophonist are definitely NOT Byrd and Woods, respectively.
2. No guitar is audible on any of the tracks.
3. The musicians present beyond any doubt (aural evidence) are Farmer, McKusick, Melle and Charles.
4. Despite what Melle indicated in the 1999 interview, the tenor saxophonist is NOT Zoot Sims based on aural evidence (confirmed in a phone conversation and email exchange with Hal McKusick). It could very well be Seldon Powell but to me, that remains insufficiently substantiated and so I am listing the tenor sax player as unknown until I find compelling evidence for Powell or anyone else.
5. The bassist and drummer sound to me much more like Burke and Thigpen than Duvivier and Wilson, respectively. Hal McKusick's recollections of the session lean in the same direction.

Teddy Charles, Thad Jones, Prestige All Stars, Mal Waldron, Frank Wess (ldr), Thad Jones (t), Frank Wess (ts, f), Teddy Charles (vib), Mal Waldron (p), Doug Watkins (b), Elvin Jones (d)

Frank Wess (ts) on c-d, f, (f) on a-b, e.

The Prestige All Stars were a variety of small ensembles assembled by the label to showcase its artists in what was basically a jam session format. They were not working groups. A common denominator was pianist Mal Waldron who would compose original compositions for the dates, many of which were blues and "I Got Rhythm" variants. This session was different featuring new material by Waldron and Charles that was rather adventurous for the time.

Edgard Varèse (ldr), Art Farmer (t), Eddie Bert, Frank Rehak (tb), Don Butterfield (tu), John La Porta (as), Hal McKusick (as, cl), Teo Macero (ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Hall Overton (p), Charles Mingus (b), Ed Shaughnessy (d), Edgard Varèse (dir, con)

This session has recently (June 1, 2009) surfaced on the Internet. It involves the French composer Edgard Varèse directing a group of New York City "workshop musicians" in performing a variety of "sounds." Teo Macero was one of the organizers. Apparently, parts of this session were used in Varèse's Poème Électronique. But these fragments seem to have little to do with jazz and although some have suggested this is one of the first "free jazz" sessions, that doesn't seem accurate since Varèse was instructing the musicians as to what to play on their given instruments. (Teddy Charles remembered nothing being written out.) The original tape of this workshop is stored at The Paul Sacher Foundation. Nineteen low quality mp3 files of this workshop are available at WFMU's Beware of the Blog.

Teddy Charles (ldr), Idrees Sulieman (t), Teddy Charles (vib), Mal Waldron (p), Addison Farmer (b), Jerry Segal (d)

Idrees Sulieman (t) on a, c-f.

January 17, 1957 has also been given as the date of this session.

Soloists:
Track a - Segal (intro), Charles, Sulieman, Waldron
Track b - Charles
Track c - Charles, Sulieman, Waldron
Track d - Charles, Sulieman
Track e - Sulieman, Charles, Waldron
Track f - Farmer (walking), Charles, Waldron, Sulieman, Charles/Sulieman (4-bar exchanges with Segal), Charles/Sulieman (4-bar exchanges)

Idrees Sulieman (t), John Jenkins (as), Teddy Charles (vib), Mal Waldron (p), Addison Farmer (b), Jerry Segal (d)

John Jenkins (as) on a-e.

This ensemble was the Prestige Jazz Quartet augmented by Sulieman and Jenkins.

Soloists:
Track a - Jenkins, Charles, Sulieman, Waldron, Segal
Track b - Charles, Sulieman, Waldron, Jenkins, Charles/Sulieman/Jenkins (4-bar exchanges with Segal)
Track c - Waldron, Jenkins, Sulieman, Charles
Track d - Segal (intro), Jenkins, Charles, Sulieman, Waldron, Sulieman/Jenkins (4-bar exchanges)
Track e - Charles/Sulieman/Jenkins (4-bar exchanges), Charles, Sulieman, Jenkins, Waldron
Track f - Sulieman

Teo Macero (ldr), Teo Macero (ts), Teddy Charles (vib), Mal Waldron (p), Addison Farmer (b), Jerry Segal (d)

Soloists:
Track a - Charles, Waldron, Macero
Track b - Charles (intro), Charles, Macero, Charles
Track c - Macero, Waldron, Charles
Track d - Macero, Charles, Waldron, Macero
Track e - Charles, Waldron, Macero
Track f - Waldron, Macero, Charles

Curtis Fuller (ldr), Curtis Fuller (tb), David Amram, Julius Watkins (frh), Sahib Shihab (as), Teddy Charles, Hampton Hawes (p), Addison Farmer (b), Jerry Segal (d)

Teddy Charles (p) on d; Hampton Hawes (p) on a-c, e-f.

This session was originally released as half of a 16 rpm LP. Teddy Charles was the supervisor and presumably arranged all of his compositions. Similarly, Torrie Zito most likely arranged his two compositions and Amram, “Five Spot.”

On the OJC CD reissue, the liner notes and back cover have "Lyriste" and "Five Spot" interchanged. "Lyriste" is the 4th track on the CD, not the 5th.

Teddy Charles (ldr), Teddy Charles (vib), Hall Overton (p), Oscar Pettiford (b)

Soloists:
Track a - Overton, Charles, Pettiford, Charles/Pettiford/Overton (4-bar exchanges)
Track b - Overton, Charles, Overton, Pettiford, Charles, Overton, Pettiford
Track c - Charles, Overton, Charles
Track d - Pettiford, Charles, Overton
Tracks e-f - Charles, Pettiford, Overton

Gunther Schuller (ldr), Art Farmer, Louis Mucci (t), Jimmy Knepper (tb), Jim Buffington (frh), John La Porta (as), Hal McKusick (ts), Robert Di Domenica (f), Manuel Zegler (bsn), Margaret Ross (hrp), Teddy Charles (vib), Barry Galbraith (g), Bill Evans (p), Joe Benjamin (b), Teddy Sommer (d), George Russell, Gunther Schuller (con)

This session, and the ones on June 18 and 20, 1957 below were an attempt to recreate a concert, organized by Gunther Schuller, held earlier at Brandeis University. The music was commissioned by The Brandeis University Festival of the Arts. The complete three-part version of "All About Rosie" was recorded on June 20, 1957.

Gunther Schuller (ldr), Art Farmer, Louis Mucci (t), Jimmy Knepper (tb), Jim Buffington (frh), John La Porta (as), Hal McKusick (ts), Teo Macero (bar), Robert Di Domenica (f), Manuel Zegler (bsn), Margaret Ross (hrp), Teddy Charles, Phil Kraus (vib), Barry Galbraith (g), Bill Evans (p), Joe Benjamin, Fred Zimmerman (b), Charles Mingus (b, con, v), Teddy Sommer (d), Gunther Schuller (con)

Teo Macero (bar) on a; Phil Kraus (vib) on b; Joe Benjamin (b) on b; Charles Mingus (b) on a, (con) on a, (v) on a; Fred Zimmerman (b) on a.

Teddy Charles remembered Phil Kraus being present on track b.

Gunther Schuller (ldr), Art Farmer, Louis Mucci (t), Jimmy Knepper (tb), Jim Buffington (frh), John La Porta (as), Hal McKusick (ts), Robert Di Domenica (f), Manuel Zegler (bsn), Margaret Ross (hrp), Teddy Charles (vib), Barry Galbraith (g), Bill Evans (p), Joe Benjamin (b), Teddy Sommer (d), George Russell, Gunther Schuller (con)