Andrew Simpkins on bass, Melissa Hasin on cello, Mel Brown on drums, Carol Robbins on harp, Ray Armando on percussion, Art Hillery on piano, Michael White on stroh violin, Maurice Spears & Thurman Green on trombone, Frank Szabo, James B. Smith & Oscar Brashear on trumpet, Dan Weinstein on viola & Brenton Banks & Mark Cargill on violin. CD

Teddy Edwards will blow your socks off! Titles include "Afraid Of Love", "Mamacita Lisa", "Back Alley Blues", "The Cellar Dweller", "Moving In", and "It's All Right". CD

With Christian McBride on bass and Billy Higgins on drums. CD

Three Contemporary albums in one nice set! CD

Two of the best west coast boppers of the postwar years – back together again in a killer revival date cut by Contemporary Records! As the title implies, the set's got a backward-looking sort of feel – at least for the early 60s recording date – but from the perspective of our generation, the whole thing merges nicely into the classic sound of LA bop – perhaps extending out the original Central Ave groove a bit more, thanks to the generous recording spirit of Contemporary, and the longer tracks on the date. Edwards plays tenor, McGhee plays trumpet, and other players include Phineas Newborn on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Ed Thigpen on drums. Titles include "Together Again", "You Stepped Out Of A Dream", "Up There", "Perhaps", "Misty" and "Sandy". LP, Vinyl record album

Two of the best west coast boppers of the postwar years – back together again in a killer revival date cut by Contemporary Records! As the title implies, the set's got a backward-looking sort of feel – at least for the early 60s recording date – but from the perspective of our generation, the whole thing merges nicely into the classic sound of LA bop – perhaps extending out the original Central Ave groove a bit more, thanks to the generous recording spirit of Contemporary, and the longer tracks on the date. Edwards plays tenor, McGhee plays trumpet, and other players include Phineas Newborn on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Ed Thigpen on drums. Titles include "Together Again", "You Stepped Out Of A Dream", "Up There", "Perhaps", "Misty" and "Sandy". It's About Time is one of the most easily swinging of Teddy's albums from this period – thanks to backing from the Les McCann trio! The format is simple – one of those "jazz soloist meets the famous piano trio" sessions that were big in the late 50s and early 60s. Teddy gets plenty of room to solo in his solid, deep tone – and Les holds back a bit more than usual, working the trio in a strong accompanist mode. Titles include "Frankly Speaking", "Beve's Cojumulations", "Undecided", "Fools Rush In", and "Lover Come Back To Me". CD

Teddy Edwards on tenor saxophone, Virgil Jones on trumpet, Richard Wyands on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Chip White on drums. CD

Two giants from the LA bop scene of years past – still sounding wonderful here in the later years of their career! We're not sure we'd rapidly embrace the "young" in the title – but only because there's a maturity of playing here that really makes the record great – a sense of pacing and individuality that makes the trumpet of Howard McGhee and tenor of Teddy Edwards so strong – as they get respectful accompaniment from Art Hillery on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – all players who seem to step into the McGhee/Edwards mode, rather than shape things on their own. Titles include "Reflections", "Relaxin At Camarillo", "Yardbird Suite", "On A Misty Night", and "Blues In The Closet". CD

Teddy Edwards at the height of his powers – packing a tight, soulful punch that made him one of the most popular players on the west coast in the early 60s – and a great link between earlier R&B tenorists and the leaner sound of 60s jazz! Edwards has a nice gutbuckety tone at times – the qualities you might hear from Hank Crawford or David Newman in the way they blended their sounds – but the overall feel is leaner and cleaner, too – not many cliches, and a kind of straightforward sound that really shows the new inroads that the LA soul jazz scene was making at the time. The set features a shifting lineup – piano from Amos Trice, Joe Castro, and Ronnie Ball – bass from Leroy Vinnegar and Ben Tucker – and drums from Al Levitt and Billy Higgins – on titles that include a whopping batch of originals like "Teddy's Tune", "Tempo De Blues", "Vintage '57", "Sunset Eyes", and "Takin Off". Plus, this CD's got some great notes, excellent packaging, and even includes 3 unreleased bonus cuts! CD

Excellent set of LA hardbop tracks by the great tenor player Teddy Edwards, with a group that includes Joe Castro, Leroy Vinnegar, and Billy Higgins. Edwards' tone is fantastic, and the tracks give him a chance to show off his soloing talent in a way that he didn't always reach on other recordings. Tracks include "Blues In G", "You Name it", "Higgins' Hideaway", and "The Sermon". LP, Vinyl record album

Teddy Edwards and Houston Person on tenor sax – accompanied by Stan Hope on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums. CD

One of our favorite albums by Teddy Edwards – and one with some organ in the group! This obscure quartet side has Gerry Wiggins playing a rare bit of Hammond – grooving the group with a lean and open-ended soul jazz approach that really has Edwards blowing at his best! The style sits right up there next to Gene Ammons' best albums of the time, and the rest of the group features Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Milt Turner on drums. Titles include "Smokin", "No Regrets", "A Bag Of Blues", "Wiggin", and "Little Steddy" – all originals that get Edwards past the usual bag of soulful standards! LP, Vinyl record album

70s brilliance from tenorist Teddy Edwards – a really overlooked album, and one that marks a great step forward from some of Edwards' better-known material of the 60s! That impeccable tone is still very strongly in place – that Edwards way of blowing smooth, but with a subtle bite, too – and Teddy's also developed this sense of flow that's really special – a difference than the way he played fifteen or twenty years before – with almost a Sonny Criss-like approach that really holds us rapt, even in more subtle moments. The album's beautifully recorded – in that stunning Xanadu label way – and the group's a quartet, with Duke Jordan on piano, Larry Ridley on bass, and Freddie Waits on drums. Edwards is clearly the start of the show, though – and really shines on titles that include "Sunset Eyes", "Imagination", "One By One", and "Stella By Starlight". CD

Great stuff – and one of the groovier Teddy Edwards sessions from the 60s! The group's a sextet – with Walter Davis piano, Paul Chambers bass, Billy Higgins drums, Phil Orlando guitar, and Montego Joe on congas and bongos. The band grooves in a soul jazz vamping mode – darkly tinged, with a bit of that Blue Note style of expression – and over the top. Edwards plays some wonderful solos, raspy in tone, with a nice edge to his tenor, slurred out in some gutbuckety playing that's very much in the pocket! Titles include "Brazilian Skies", "Lovin It, Lovin It", "Nothin But The Truth", and "On The Street Where You Live". CD

Two of the best west coast boppers of the postwar years – back together again in a killer revival date cut by Contemporary Records! As the title implies, the set's got a backward-looking sort of feel – at least for the early 60s recording date – but from the perspective of our generation, the whole thing merges nicely into the classic sound of LA bop – perhaps extending out the original Central Ave groove a bit more, thanks to the generous recording spirit of Contemporary, and the longer tracks on the date. Edwards plays tenor, McGhee plays trumpet, and other players include Phineas Newborn on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Ed Thigpen on drums. Titles include "Together Again", "You Stepped Out Of A Dream", "Up There", "Perhaps", "Misty" and "Sandy". LP, Vinyl record album

A trio of wonderful tenorists – each of them important players on their respective local scenes – coming together tremendously here in an all-star set! Tracks are often long, and really allow each individual plenty of personal expression on their solos – and although Edwards was getting some good time on record at this point in his career, the set's maybe even more special for the way it presents both Buck Hill and Von Freeman – each of whom is great. Backing is by the trio of Rein De Graaff on piano, Koos Serierse on bass, and Eric Ineke on drums – and titles include "Perdido/Wahoo", "Red Top", "I Can't Get Started", "Out Of Nowhere", "Loverman", and "Old Folks". CD

With Fletcher Smith on piano and Bam Brown on bass on the trio sessions; Dodo Marmarosa on piano, Bam Brown on bass, and Zutty Singleton on drums on the quartet sessions; and featuring Howard McGhee, Lucky Thompson, Teddy Edwards, and Leo Watson in the orchestra. LP, Vinyl record album

Nice full length issue of Dexter Gordon's early bebop material recorded for the Dial label. This excellent package collects some key early work by Gordon – important west coast bop sides cut for the Dial label in the mid 40s! Dex's records of the time were some of the best burning out of LA – and the set features Dex in the company of Wardell Gray and Teddy Edwards, on classics like "The Duel", "The Chase", "Blues Bikini", "Sweet & Lovely", "Ghost Of A Chance", "Talk Of The Town" and "Mischievous Lady", most in multiple takes, too! LP, Vinyl record album

A cool small combo set from vocalist Helen Humes – with excellent backing from a group that features Joe Gordon on trumpet, Teddy Edwards on tenor, Wynton Kelly on piano, and Al Viola on guitar! LP, Vinyl record album

Hard wailing stuff – a mixture of jazz and R&B grooving, with some great tenor work by Fred Clark, over tightly jumping arrangements by the small combo of drummer George Jenkins! Despite the title, George gives all players plenty of space – and the record feels like a raw boppish side from the Central Ave scene in LA, especially as Clark is blowing as soulfully as Teddy Edwards! Titles include "Port Side", "Bar B Que", "GJ's Drums", "Bullfrog", and "Antipathy". LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal moment on the west coast scene of the 60s – a record that has the great Gerald Wilson pulling together some of the best elements that were going on at the time, and also pointing the way towards changes to come in the future! The set's not the first effort by Wilson on record, but it's maybe one of his most classic – and begins with superb selection of members for the ensemble – a lineup that includes Carmell Jones on trumpet, Lou Blackburn on trombone, Teddy Edwards and Harold Land on tenors, Joe Pass on guitar, and the great Jack Wilson on piano! But key to the set are the rhythms – with the wonderful bassist Jimmy Bond setting up a groove that seems to pull out the best from drummer Mel Lewis – as the pair help ground the larger group with a rock-solid groove that keeps things soulful throughout! Nearly every track's an original, and the album includes Wilson's killer track "Viva Tirado" – a tight jazzy stepper that was covered by many artists over the years, most famously El Chicano – with a Latin-tinged groove that really opens up a new sound in Los Angeles jazz! There's lots of other great cuts too – including "Moment of Truth", "Latino", "Josefina", and "Patterns". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Jones on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums – and on three tracks the group also includes Kenny Burrell on guitar, Teddy Edwards on tenor, and Bob Ojeda on trumpet! LP, Vinyl record album

Dial, Melodisc, Philo, and Modern sessions with Charlie Parker, Teddy Edwards, Charles Mingus, and others! CD

Seminal 78rpm material for Savoy and Dial – plus a rare single on the Old Swingmaster label too! Features work by Jimmy Heath on alto, Teddy Edwards and James Moody on tenor, Milt Jackson on vibes, and Dodo Marmarosa on piano! CD

A great example of the cool, classy swing that Benny Carter hit in the 1960s – a groove that was more regularly brought to backings for standout singers of the time, but which also works beautifully here in an instrumental mode! Carter's alto sax is at the top of the charts, but the album's almost more of an ensemble effort overall – with great reed work from Bud Shank on alto, Teddy Edwards and Bill Perkins on tenor, Bill Hood on baritone sax, Don Abney on piano, Barney Kessell and Mundell Lowe on guitar – all coming together as kind of a mini-large ensemble – never that big in the number of players, but grooving with a great sense of poise, class, and soul. There's a number of originals written by Carter, including "Doozy", "Prohibido", "Come On Back", "Rock Bottom", "We Were In Love", and "Titmouse" CD

A great little follow-up to Ray's funky My Kind Of Jazz album – and like that one, a session that's all instrumental, and in a soul jazz mode that's quite different than most of Ray's vocal albums from the time. Tracks are all a bit longish, and feature some striking arrangements by Teddy Edwards, Jimmy Heath, and Al Clausen – bristling with energy in a nicely updated big band mode, in a way that almost recalls some of the best MPS sessions of this type, or maybe some of the hippest work by the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis group. Players are unfortunately not listed on the cover, but the sound is great – and titles include "Going Home", "Brazilian Skies", "Kids Are Pretty People", "Morning Of Carnival", "Our Site", "A Pair Of Threes", and "Togetherness". LP, Vinyl record album

With Harold Vick and Teddy Edwards on tenor saxes, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Gene Edwards and Pat Martino on guitar, Paul Chambers on bass, and Billy Higgins, Freddie Waits or George Randall on drums. CD

Way nicer than some of Milt's earlier work – and one of the gems he recorded with bassist Ray Brown during the late 60s. The group's got a tight soul jazz stepping groove – with Monty Alexander on piano, comping along right over Ray's warm basslines in a very tasty way. Teddy Edwards plays tenor – and tracks icnlude "Listen, Hear" (a clear parody of Eddie Harris' hit), "SKJ", and "Bag's Groove". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare King, Jewel, and Sensation sides with Dexter Gordon on tenor sax, Leo Parker on baritone sax, Teddy Edwards on alto, JJ Johnson on trombone, Bill Doggett on piano, Charles Mingus on bass, and Chico Hamilton on drums. CD

One of the more obscure Dial Records albums – with work from Hank Jones and Dodo Marmarosa on piano, Milt Jackson on vibes, James Moody and Teddy Edwards on tenor, and Howard McGhee on trumpet! LP, Vinyl record album

Essential work by a crucially overlooked player – the excellent Dodo Marmarosa – known for only a handful of later recordings, and for these early 78rpm appearances on Dial Records! At the time, Marmarosa was a key figure on the LA scene – arguably one of the first players to bring that city a bop idiom on piano – but in a really unique way that also links his keyboard work to that of some of the blusier players on the west coast too – a style that's filled with feeling, especially on the mellower tracks – yet ready to leap with fire in more boppish moments, especially when some horn stars are in the mix. Players include Charlie Parker on alto, Lucky Thompson and Teddy Edwards on tenor, Miles Davis and Howard McGhee on trumpet, and Roy Porter on drums – and there's a few solo tracks too. Titles include "Tone Paintings", "Bird Lore", "Dilated Pupils", "Midnight At Minton's", "Up In Dodo's Room", "Cosmo Street", "Dodo's Dance", and "Dary Departs". CD

Stellar stellar set by this great vibes player! Recorded with the same high quality as all the Ubiquity releases, and a loving tribute to a great player who hasn't had his due in many many years. At first, we thought "big deal, another Dave Pike record. It's new, and it's probably a lot weaker than his old stuff." It's not, though, and although it doesn't have as many funky electric tracks as his MPS releases, it's a beatiful set of modal jazzy tracks with excellent playing throughout, and a wonderful sound all the way through. Jane Getz plays piano, Teddy Edwards plays tenor, Milcho Leviev plays piano, and Anthony Wilson plays guitar. Nice one, Ubiquity! CD

It's hard to overstate the influence of Max Roach and Clifford Brown on the west coast scene of the 50s – as the two players helped draw out the bop sound of LA that was quickly getting lost in the cool jazz shuffle of the time, and gave it a strength and focus that not only made the group one of the strongest of the time, but which also sparked new life and a hardbop generation on the LA scene! This classic set of live recordings was one of the first great Brown/Roach moments – recorded during 2 different concerts by Gene Norman Presents, and featuring some great tenor work by LA giants Teddy Edwards and Harold Land, plus some piano by the amazing "sideways" player Carl Perkins, as well as Bud Powell's brother Richie – a key factor of the group's studio recordings on Mercury, and a player who would perish in the same accident that took the life of Clifford Brown. Titles include "Parisian Thoroughfare", "I Can't Get Started", "I Get A Kick Out Of You", and "Jordu". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Jimmy's last albums for a major label in the 70s – a real back-to-basics set that was recorded live at the Jimmy Smith Supper Club in LA – the "home of fried cornbread and live jazz", and a venue that we certainly wish we could have visited! Jimmy's working here with an all-star group that almost recalls his Blue Note jam session work – with Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Teddy Edwards and Harold Land on tenor, and Ray Crawford on guitar – all coming together in gently-grooving numbers that have a classic soul jazz feel. Titles include "It's Necessary", "For Your Love", "Side Mouthin", "Sometimes I'm Happy", "I've Got Love On My Mind", and "Say It Again, Jim". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic 70s album from the great Sarah Vaughan – maybe one of her best small combo sessions of the decade – and a set that also makes room for some great instrumental contributions too! As you'd guess from the title, the group features the great Jimmy Rowles on piano – having a bit of time in the limelight at this point in his career, and graced with a relaxedly emotive style that's perfect for the similar qualities in Sarah's voice! Yet it's also the whole package on the set that makes things great – as Rowles group features wonderful work on bass from Monty Budwig, maybe some of his best performances on record – plus drums from Donald Bailey, tenor from Teddy Edwards, and trumpet from Al Aarons. These players never get in the way of Sarah, but do a true job of accompanying the singer, while inspiring her to her best with their own top talents – on titles that include "That Face", "Folks Who Live On The Hill", "A House Is Not A Home", "That Sunday That Summer", and "Morning Star". CD

A fantastic 70s album from the great Sarah Vaughan – maybe one of her best small combo sessions of the decade – and a set that also makes room for some great instrumental contributions too! As you'd guess from the title, the group features the great Jimmy Rowles on piano – having a bit of time in the limelight at this point in his career, and graced with a relaxedly emotive style that's perfect for the similar qualities in Sarah's voice! Yet it's also the whole package on the set that makes things great – as Rowles group features wonderful work on bass from Monty Budwig, maybe some of his best performances on record – plus drums from Donald Bailey, tenor from Teddy Edwards, and trumpet from Al Aarons. These players never get in the way of Sarah, but do a true job of accompanying the singer, while inspiring her to her best with their own top talents – on titles that include "That Face", "Folks Who Live On The Hill", "A House Is Not A Home", "That Sunday That Summer", and "Morning Star". LP, Vinyl record album