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Teddy Edwards

Theodore Marcus "Teddy" Edwards (April 26, 1924 – April 20, 2003) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, arranger, and lyricist, celebrated for his pioneering role in the bebop and hard bop genres as a master of Los Angeles' vibrant Central Avenue jazz scene.^[1]^[2] Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Edwards began his professional career as a teenager playing with territory bands before relocating to Los Angeles in 1945, where he immersed himself in the city's thriving jazz community amid challenges like racial harassment and economic hardships.^[3]^[2] His warm, soulful tone—drawing influences from Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young—combined blues-rooted traditions with contemporary improvisation, earning him recognition as a fluent and inventive performer.^[4]^[2] Edwards' career highlights include recording what is considered the first bebop tenor saxophone solo on "Up in Dodo's Room" with Howard McGhee in 1946, a milestone that showcased his harmonic ingenuity and instrumental control.^[4]^[2] He joined prominent ensembles such as the Lighthouse All Stars in 1949 and the Max Roach-Clifford Brown Quintet in 1954, contributing compositions like "Sunset Eyes" before leaving to focus on family.^[4]^[2] Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he collaborated with luminaries including Benny Goodman, Count Basie, and Dizzy Gillespie, while leading his own groups and experimenting with innovative formats like a brass-string ensemble.^[2]^[4] Later in his career, Edwards toured Europe extensively starting in 1978, recorded with Tom Waits on the 1982 soundtrack One from the Heart, and continued producing albums into the 1990s despite health issues from prostate cancer, leaving a vast discography spanning over five decades.^[4]^[2] Beyond music, he pursued poetry, screenwriting, and even a cookbook, reflecting his multifaceted creativity until his death in Los Angeles at age 78.^[2]^[1]

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Theodore Marcus "Teddy" Edwards was born on April 26, 1924, in Jackson, Mississippi.^[5] He was raised in a musical family, with his father, Bruce Edwards, performing on trombone, violin, and various reed instruments, and his grandfather, Henry C. Reed, playing acoustic bass.^[5]^[6] His mother and grandmother further nurtured this environment by positioning young Teddy near saxophones during home rehearsals, exposing him to music from an early age.^[6] During the 1920s and 1930s, Jackson's African American community, comprising nearly half the city's population, navigated the constraints of Jim Crow segregation, economic disparities exacerbated by the Great Depression, and limited access to resources, yet fostered resilient cultural enclaves.^[7] Neighborhoods like Farish Street served as vital hubs for black-owned businesses, churches, and entertainment venues, including theaters that hosted blues and jazz performances, providing a backdrop of communal vibrancy and artistic expression for families like the Edwards.^[7] This era's socioeconomic challenges, including widespread poverty and sharecropping dependencies, contrasted with the area's growing black middle class, which emphasized self-sufficiency and cultural pride.^[7] In 1940, at age 16, Edwards relocated to Detroit at the invitation of his uncle, Frenod Reed, who believed the city offered superior opportunities for development amid the ongoing Great Migration northward.^[5]^[8] However, after approximately four years, a death in the family prompted his return to Jackson, reflecting the pulls of familial obligations during this transitional period.^[6]^[9]

Musical Beginnings in Mississippi

Born in Jackson, Mississippi, to a musical family, Teddy Edwards began his musical journey at age 12 in 1936, taking up the alto saxophone and clarinet with Doc Parmley's Royal Mississippians band.^[10]^[5] This early professional engagement came after winning amateur talent prizes, marking his entry into local jazz circles amid encouragement from family members and dance-hall owners who recognized his potential.^[2] During his teenage years, Edwards continued performing with various territory bands around Jackson, honing his skills through regular gigs that exposed him to the regional jazz scene.^[11] These experiences included hearing visiting ensembles like Duke Ellington's, which broadened his appreciation for sophisticated arrangements and improvisation.^[11] Largely self-taught, Edwards drew on resources left by his absent father, a musician with Silas Green's tent show, including an Orem harmony book that he used to study chords independently rather than transcribing records.^[11] His early influences encompassed alto saxophonists such as Johnny Hodges, Hilton Jefferson, and Tab Smith, whose styles resonated through the lively Mississippi jazz environment shaped by local and traveling performers.^[11]^[12] The musical heritage of his family—grandfather a bass player and mother, who played piano—fostered an environment where pursuing music professionally became a natural path, especially as Edwards supported himself through performances by age 16.^[12]^[11]

Career

Early Professional Career

In 1940, at the age of 16, Edwards relocated from Jackson, Mississippi, to Detroit, Michigan, at the invitation of an uncle who sought to provide him with greater opportunities in the city's burgeoning music scene.^[12] There, he began his initial professional engagements, performing with local ensembles such as the Royal Mississippians while honing his skills primarily on the alto saxophone and clarinet.^[12] He remained in Detroit for approximately four years, gigging in clubs and building experience amid the Midwest's jazz circuits before a family bereavement prompted a brief return south.^[6] Following stints leading small groups in Louisiana and Florida, Edwards joined Ernie Fields' Orchestra in Tampa after band members heard his playing during a local engagement.^[6] The ensemble toured extensively, bringing him to Los Angeles by late 1944, where they performed at the prominent Club Alabam on Central Avenue, exposing him to West Coast audiences and marking his transition to national jazz visibility.^[6] This period solidified his professional footing, as he contributed to the orchestra's swing-oriented repertoire on alto saxophone.^[5] Upon arriving in California, Edwards shifted his primary instrument to the tenor saxophone at the urging of trumpeter Howard McGhee, with whom he began collaborating in 1945 during McGhee's residency after touring with Coleman Hawkins.^[10] This change aligned with his entry into bebop circles, as he took on sideman roles in McGhee's group, participating in innovative jam sessions at venues like the Finale Club that predated the arrivals of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie on the West Coast.^[11] His adaptation to tenor was pivotal, enabling a more robust tone suited to the era's evolving harmonic demands.^[5] A landmark moment came in 1947 when Edwards recorded "The Duel," a tenor saxophone battle with Dexter Gordon for the Dial label, which showcased his emerging bebop prowess and established him among the top young tenors of the late 1940s.^[5] The session, featuring tracks like "Blues in Teddy's Flat," highlighted his competitive yet melodic style in head-to-head exchanges, garnering attention in jazz circles despite modest initial compensation.^[13]

Los Angeles Jazz Scene

After arriving in Los Angeles in late 1944, Teddy Edwards settled in Los Angeles and quickly immersed himself in the thriving jazz community along Central Avenue, the epicenter of the city's postwar Black music scene.^[14]^[2] He performed regularly at key venues such as the Club Alabam, Dunbar Hotel, Club Plantation, and Clark Hotel, where the vibrant nightlife fostered intense musical exchanges among emerging talents.^[14]^[15] Edwards became a fixture in the after-hours club circuit, extending his performances to Westside spots like the Zebra Lounge, Marty's, the Parisian Room, the Sands, Pied Piper, Memory Lane, the Caribbean, and the Tiki, where musicians gathered for late-night jams that pushed the boundaries of bebop improvisation.^[14] These sessions often featured legendary "saxophone battles," with Edwards engaging in spirited tenor duels alongside peers Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray, exemplified by his 1947 recording "The Duel" with Gordon on Dial Records, which captured the competitive energy of the era.^[16]^[10] As a sought-after session musician, Edwards contributed significantly to the Los Angeles bebop and hard bop scenes throughout the 1950s and 1960s, lending his robust, lyrical tenor sound to recordings and live dates with artists like Howard McGhee, Hampton Hawes, and Gerald Wilson, while pioneering full bebop phrasing on the instrument.^[17]^[8] His versatility extended to high-profile gigs, including a 1964 engagement with Benny Goodman's band at Disneyland and subsequent performances at the New York World's Fair, where he also arranged material for the ensemble.^[5]^[18] Edwards asserted his leadership in the local scene with early albums like It's About Time (1959), recorded with Les McCann's trio for Pacific Jazz Records, blending hard bop swing with accessible grooves that highlighted his compositional flair and warm tonal palette.^[19]^[17] This period solidified his reputation as a cornerstone of LA's jazz ecosystem, balancing session work with personal projects amid the avenue's evolving cultural landscape.^[15]

Mid-to-Late Career Developments

In the 1970s, Edwards experienced a significant career revival through renewed recording opportunities, highlighted by his 1976 album The Inimitable Teddy Edwards on Xanadu Records, which showcased his enduring bebop prowess alongside pianist Cedar Walton and drummer Billy Higgins. This period marked a resurgence in visibility for the LA-based saxophonist, who had been somewhat overshadowed by East Coast peers, allowing him to blend hard bop with blues-inflected phrasing on tracks like "Sunset Eyes."^[20] Edwards expanded internationally in the late 1970s and 1980s, gaining popularity in Europe with tours including the 1978 International Jazz Festival circuit and performances at festivals in Molde, Norway; Amsterdam, Netherlands; and Antwerp, Belgium, in 1980.^[21] In 1982, he recorded with Tom Waits on the soundtrack for One from the Heart.^[2] A notable highlight was his 1980s saxophone duel with British tenor Dick Morrissey at London's 100 Club, where the two musicians engaged in an intense, crowd-pleasing exchange that exemplified Edwards' competitive yet collaborative spirit.^[22] During this era, Edwards also reflected on his early collaborations with Charlie Parker in interviews, crediting the altoist's influence on West Coast bebop development while recounting shared gigs in 1940s Los Angeles reed sections.^[23] The 1990s brought diverse collaborations that broadened Edwards' reach beyond traditional jazz circles. In 1991, he released Mississippi Lad on Gitanes Jazz, featuring vocalist Tom Waits on tracks like "I'm Not Your Fool Anymore," where Waits' gravelly delivery complemented Edwards' warm tenor lines in a bluesy, narrative-driven session recorded at Sunset Sound in Hollywood. Edwards partnered with tenor saxophonist Houston Person for two acclaimed duo albums: Horn to Horn (1996, Muse), emphasizing swinging interplay on standards like "Equinox," and Close Encounters (1999, HighNote), which highlighted their harmonious front-line dynamics with pianist Stan Hope. Despite battling prostate cancer in his later years, Edwards maintained an active performance schedule in Los Angeles and on tour, including a final appearance at Ronnie Scott's in London shortly before his death.^[2] His perseverance culminated in the 2001 recording sessions for Smooth Sailing (HighNote, 2003 posthumous release), a relaxed octet date featuring pianist Bill Mays on ballads like "All Too Soon" and originals such as "Hank's Tune," capturing his lyrical maturity amid health challenges.^[24]

Musical Style and Influences

Key Influences

Teddy Edwards' early musical development was deeply rooted in the regional jazz and swing scenes of Mississippi, where he began performing professionally at the age of 12 with Doc Parmlee's Royal Mississippians, a territory band that exposed him to the foundational rhythms and ensemble playing of the swing era.^[10] Growing up in Jackson, he learned basic harmony from his father's Orem harmony book and his cousin's piano studies, while drawing initial inspiration from alto saxophonists like Johnny Hodges, Willie Smith, and Tab Smith, though he emphasized improvising chordal melodies over direct imitation.^[11] Edwards' immersion in bebop came through pivotal collaborations and rivalries with pioneers Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray, beginning in Detroit around 1942, where he partnered with Gray in after-hours sessions at the Congo Club and engaged in friendly tenor "battles" that honed his competitive phrasing and technical agility.^[11] These encounters, including studying saxophone methods together with Gray, marked a shift from swing to the faster, more complex bebop language, further refined by trumpeter Howard McGhee's lessons on flat-fifth substitutions.^[11] Broader inspirations included Charlie Parker, whom Edwards met during Parker's stints with the McShann and Hines bands in Detroit; Parker demonstrated advanced phrasing techniques that influenced Edwards' approach to melodic invention within bebop structures, facilitating his transition into hard bop's more robust, blues-inflected sound.^[11] This evolution aligned with Edwards' recognition as a pioneer hard bopper on tenor saxophone.^[4] The Central Avenue jazz scene in Los Angeles played a crucial role in refining Edwards' sound after his move there in 1945, where interactions with local peers like Sonny Criss, Lucky Thompson, and Hampton Hawes in clubs and jam sessions fostered a distinctive West Coast bebop variant, emphasizing melodic clarity amid the era's vibrant after-hours culture.^[6] Edwards credited these environments, including burlesque club gigs in the early 1950s, with sharpening his ability to blend bebop innovation with swing-era roots.^[11]

Signature Style and Techniques

Teddy Edwards developed a distinctive charging, up-tempo, bluesy hard bop style on the tenor saxophone, characterized by faultless timing, contagious pace, and a relaxed yet furious delivery that emphasized blues-inflected phrasing over mere technical display.^[25]^[26] His solos often featured slinky, tightly articulated lines with a blues-drenched edge, bending and slurring notes sensuously while maintaining exact vibrato, creating an irresistible swing that buoyed the beat with power and conviction on medium-tempo blues and faster pieces.^[20]^[27] This approach positioned him as a pioneer hard bopper in Los Angeles' Central Avenue scene, where he helped codify the post-swing vocabulary for tenor saxophone through early recordings like his 1946 solo on "Up in Dodo's Room," blending bebop's harmonic complexity with West Coast swing's laid-back propulsion.^[11]^[14] In contrast to his energetic up-tempo work, Edwards demonstrated a remarkable ability to produce a sweet, burnished tone for ballads and slower pieces, shifting from burlap-like robustness to silk-and-satin smoothness with full-blooded, middle-of-the-road warmth.^[20]^[27] He caressed melodies with sensitivity, as heard in unaccompanied introductions like his extended a cappella solo on "Stella by Starlight," where his timbre, pitch control, and note shaping evoked a poetic mastery akin to Coleman Hawkins.^[26]^[11] This tonal versatility, honed through diaphragm strength and extensive practice, allowed him to infuse emotional depth into standards such as "Misty" and "April Love," prioritizing articulate delivery over multinote excesses.^[27] Edwards' mastery of improvisation shone in both ensemble settings and high-stakes saxophone battles, where he took on all comers in the competitive concert halls of post-WWII Los Angeles, relying on his talent to craft striking, standalone episodes that blended bebop precision with avant-garde flair.^[20] He approached chords as "sound bodies," selecting notes for color and narrative impact, often transposing them verbatim in chordal improvisations that evolved from single-note lines to more complex statements.^[11] His evolution from early swing influences—absorbing the best of various saxophone schools—to a mature bebop expression reflected a personal conviction that made his sound inimitable, always at ease yet full of ecstatic jazz joy.^[27]^[14]

Discography

As Leader

Teddy Edwards's work as a leader showcased his commanding presence as a tenor saxophonist, beginning with high-energy bebop sessions in the late 1940s that highlighted his competitive edge in the West Coast jazz scene. His earliest notable leader effort came in 1947 with recordings later compiled on The Foremost! (released 1972 on Onyx), featuring duels with Dexter Gordon, including the iconic track "The Duel," which captured the era's intense tenor battles and established Edwards as a formidable bebop voice alongside peers like Wardell Gray and Leo Parker.^[28]^[13] These sessions emphasized rapid improvisation and rhythmic drive, reflecting Edwards's roots in the Central Avenue milieu and his ability to match Gordon's power with a warmer, more lyrical tone.^[18] By the late 1950s, Edwards transitioned toward hard bop with greater emphasis on blues-inflected expression, evident in It's About Time (recorded 1959, released 1960 on Pacific Jazz), a collaborative album with Les McCann's trio featuring Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Ron Jefferson on drums. The recording blended standards like "Our Love Is Here to Stay" with originals such as "Up in Teddy's New Flat," fostering a joyful, interactive atmosphere that highlighted Edwards's soulful phrasing and McCann's energetic piano work, marking a shift from pure bebop confrontation to ensemble cohesion.^[28]^[19] This album underscored his evolving leadership in creating supportive, groove-oriented sessions that bridged West Coast cool and emerging soul jazz elements.^[29] Edwards's later leadership projects grew more eclectic, incorporating tributes to his Mississippi heritage and unconventional guests, as seen in Mississippi Lad (1991 on Verve/Gitanes), where he directed a quartet with pianist Art Hillery, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Billy Higgins, joined by Tom Waits on vocals and guitar for two tracks. The album delved into bluesy, narrative-driven pieces like the title track, allowing Edwards to explore melodic depth and emotional restraint, serving as a reflective nod to his origins while revitalizing his career on a major label after nearly a decade's hiatus from leading dates.^[28]^[30] This work exemplified his matured style, prioritizing interpretive nuance over virtuosic display. In his final years, Edwards embraced intimate quartet settings for Smooth Sailing (2003 on HighNote), leading pianist Richard Wyands, bassist Ray Drummond, and drummer Chip White through a program of standards and originals like "Going Home," delivered with economical elegance and a relaxed swing that captured his enduring warmth.^[24]^[31] The album's poised execution reflected a leadership honed over decades, from bebop intensity to contemplative lyricism, affirming his influence on straight-ahead jazz.^[28] Among rarer leader efforts, Edwards's 1960 octet session Back to Avalon (released 1995 on Contemporary) stood out for its expansive arrangements of pop and jazz tunes, featuring horns like those of trumpeter Nathaniel Meeks and trombonist Lester Robertson, offering a glimpse into his underdocumented big-band inclinations during a transitional period.^[28] No major unreleased leader sessions have surfaced, though archival compilations like The Complete Recordings 1947-1962 (Enlightenment) preserve early quintet dates that reveal his foundational command.^[32]

As Sideman

Teddy Edwards contributed as a sideman to over 100 jazz recordings spanning five decades, showcasing his tenor saxophone in diverse ensembles from small combos to big bands and crossover projects. His early work in the 1940s and 1950s often captured the vibrant Central Avenue scene in Los Angeles, where he supported emerging bebop artists on informal and studio sessions. Throughout the 1960s and beyond, Edwards appeared on albums blending hard bop, soul jazz, and vocal jazz, frequently providing robust tenor solos in rhythm sections or horn lines. These collaborations highlighted his adaptability, from West Coast cool to more experimental pop-jazz fusions in later years.^[33] In the 1950s, Edwards recorded with pianist Joe Castro on Groove Funk Soul (Atlantic, 1960), delivering swinging tenor lines in a quartet setting with Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Billy Higgins on drums, and At Falcon's Lair (Metrojazz, 1959), emphasizing blues-inflected interplay. He also backed vocalist Helen Humes on 'Tain't Nobody Biz-ness If I Do (Contemporary, 1959) and Songs I Like to Sing! (Contemporary, 1960), contributing warm tenor support to her blues-shouting style. Other notable Central Avenue-era sessions included work with trumpeter Howard McGhee on early 1945-1946 broadcasts (Classics, 1945-1946) and bassist Leroy Vinnegar's Leroy Walks! (Contemporary, 1957), where Edwards' solos added bebop flair to walking bass grooves. Additionally, he played reeds in Gerald Wilson's big band on Moment of Truth (Pacific Jazz, 1962), featuring dynamic horn charts.^[33]^[34] The 1960s saw Edwards in high-profile soul jazz and vocal projects, including alto saxophonist Sonny Criss' Sonny's Dream (Birth of the New Cool) (Prestige, 1968), where his tenor complemented Criss' arrangements by Horace Tapscott in an orchestra setting with Tommy Flanagan on piano. With vibraphonist Milt Jackson, he recorded multiple live and studio dates, such as That's the Way It Is (Impulse!, 1969), captured at Shelly's Manne-Hole with Monty Alexander on piano. Edwards also supported vocalists like Sarah Vaughan on Sarah Sings Soulfully (Roulette, 1963) and Nancy Wilson on Yesterday's Love Songs, Today's Blues (Capitol, 1963-1964), providing subtle tenor fills in string-augmented ensembles. His big band work continued with Gerald Wilson on Portraits (Pacific Jazz, 1964) and The Golden Sword (Pacific Jazz, 1966), where he handled tenor solos in expansive orchestral contexts.^[33] In the 1970s, Edwards joined drummer Frank Butler on Wheelin' and Dealin' (Xanadu, 1978), a hard bop session with Joe Farrell on tenor saxophone, featuring Edwards' signature bluesy tenor leads. He also appeared on organist Jimmy Smith's Bluesmith (Verve, 1972) and It's Necessary (Mercury, 1977), adding gritty tenor to Smith's funky organ grooves, and with Milt Jackson on Centerpiece (Pablo, 1976). Later decades brought crossover opportunities, including tenor work on Tom Waits' soundtrack One from the Heart (Columbia, 1982), where Edwards' saxophone enriched the film's atmospheric jazz arrangements. In the 1990s, he contributed to Randy Weston and Melba Liston's Volcano Blues (Antilles, 1993) in a large ensemble and vocalist Charles Brown's So Goes Love (Verve, 1998), blending jazz with R&B balladry. These sessions underscored Edwards' enduring role in bridging traditional jazz with broader musical landscapes.^[33]

Legacy

Recognition and Honors

In 1989, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley presented Teddy Edwards with a proclamation honoring his lifetime contributions to jazz, recognizing his pivotal role in the city's vibrant music scene during a special event at the Jazz at Drew Festival.^[35] Edwards was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1994, which he kept private while continuing to perform, though the illness later prompted community benefits to support his medical care and underscored his resilience in receiving tributes amid health challenges.^[15]^[21] Following his diagnosis, these health-related recognitions included organized fundraisers that highlighted his enduring influence on local jazz education and performance. Upon his death in 2003, Edwards received widespread posthumous acclaim in major obituaries, with The New York Times eulogizing him as a "deft star" of the Los Angeles jazz scene for his innovative tenor saxophone work and contributions to bebop's West Coast evolution.^[15] Similarly, The Guardian praised his supportive mentorship and international touring resurgence in his later years.^[2] In the years after his passing, tributes extended to educational initiatives, including the establishment of the Teddy Edwards Memorial Scholarship Fund at Compton College to aid aspiring jazz musicians.^[36] In 2025, a tribute concert titled "A Night at Serengeti" was held on April 26 in Detroit, honoring Edwards' musical legacy alongside saxophonist Teddy Harris Jr. and serving as a fundraiser for jazz preservation efforts.^[37] No formal jazz festival dedications in his name have been documented post-2003, though his legacy continues through such institutional honors.

Influence on Jazz

Teddy Edwards played a pivotal role as a master of the Los Angeles Central Avenue jazz scene, where he helped shape the vibrant post-World War II jazz culture that blended rhythm and blues with emerging bebop elements. Arriving in LA in 1945, Edwards became a central figure in the after-hours clubs along Central Avenue, collaborating with luminaries like Howard McGhee, Dexter Gordon, and Gerald Wilson, and contributing to the development of West Coast jazz through his innovative tenor saxophone work. His participation in landmark sessions, such as the 1946 Dial recording "Up in Dodo's Room," featured the first full bebop solo on tenor saxophone, setting a precedent for the genre's evolution on the West Coast and influencing the hard bop-infused sound that characterized the region's black jazz community.^[8]^[38]^[39] Edwards' bluesy, soulful hard bop approach inspired subsequent generations of tenor saxophonists, who admired his original, fast-paced phrasing and warm tone that bridged bebop complexity with emotional depth. Jazz historian Steve Isoardi noted that "you can't overstate his influence," crediting Edwards with pioneering full-blown bebop on the instrument and shaping players like Sonny Rollins and Joshua Redman through his recorded innovations. Despite his underrecognized status—often overshadowed by East Coast figures—Edwards' style provided a blueprint for West Coast tenor players, emphasizing blues-inflected improvisation that preserved bebop traditions while adapting to local R&B influences.^[8]^[4]^[38] His extensive legacy of over 100 recordings as a leader and sideman stands as a cornerstone for preserving bebop into the modern era, capturing the essence of LA's jazz evolution from the 1940s through the 2000s. Albums like Teddy's Ready! (1960) and Sunset Eyes (1962) on Contemporary Records exemplify his compositional skill and bandleading, while collaborations with artists such as Max Roach and Clifford Brown documented the transition from Central Avenue's heyday to broader West Coast festivals. These works continue to influence jazz education by serving as primary resources for studying bebop's West Coast adaptations.^[39]^[4]^[38] Post-1960s, Edwards contributed to jazz mentorship in LA communities through his ongoing performances and bandleading, shaping young musicians in the Central Avenue tradition amid the scene's decline. By fronting ensembles at clubs and festivals, he provided informal guidance to emerging talents, fostering continuity in the local jazz ecosystem despite limited formal teaching roles. His underrecognized pioneering efforts, as highlighted by peers like Buddy Collette, underscore a lasting cultural impact that extended bebop's reach into contemporary LA jazz circles.^[8]^[4]^[39]

References

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Teddy Edwards | jazz tenor saxophonist | Los Angeles | USA
Theodore Marcus 'Teddy' Edwards (April 26, 1924 – April 20, 2003) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, arranger, and lyricist.
[2]
Teddy Edwards | | The Guardian
Apr 29, 2003 · In 1945, after years on the road, suffering racial harassment, bad weather and poorly paid gigs, the jazz saxophonist Teddy Edwards, who has ...
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Teddy Edwards
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Teddy Edwards Musician - All About Jazz
### Biography and Key Highlights of Teddy Edwards
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Teddy Edwards Biography
THEODORE MARCUS “TEDDY” EDWARDS was born on April 26, 1924 in Jackson, Mississippi to a musical family. His grandfather, Henry C. Reed, played the bass and his ...Missing: siblings | Show results with:siblings
[6]
Teddy Edwards - www.jazzweekly.com | Interviews
FRED JUNG: Let's start from the beginning. TEDDY EDWARDS: Well, my father was a musician and my grandfather was one of the early acoustic bass players during ...Missing: siblings background
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Farish Street | Mississippi Encyclopedia
Apr 14, 2018 · Farish Street in Jackson is the heart of one of the country's oldest African American communities, founded before the end of the Civil War.Missing: socioeconomic | Show results with:socioeconomic
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Teddy Edwards -- pioneering bebop sax player - SFGATE
Apr 24, 2003 · Born Theodore Marcus Edwards in Jackson, Miss., on April 26, 1924, he moved to Detroit in 1940 at the urging of an uncle who wanted to expose ...Missing: background | Show results with:background
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Teddy Edwards born 26 April 1924 - FROM THE VAULTS
Apr 26, 2022 · Theodore Marcus "Teddy" Edwards was born in Jackson, Mississippi to a musical family. His grandfather, Henry C. Reed, played the bass and his ...Missing: background | Show results with:background
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Teddy Edwards - Concord
Born in Mississippi, Edwards was playing clarinet and alto in Doc Parmlee's band as early as 1936, when he was 12. He worked with other local groups and, after ...Missing: family background<|control11|><|separator|>
[11]
A 1999 interview with Teddy Edwards - Ted Panken - WordPress.com
Jan 21, 2013 · I was 12 when I met my father, a strong reading musician who played with Silas Green's tent show (about the strongest one out there), but he had ...Missing: siblings | Show results with:siblings<|control11|><|separator|>
[12]
Edwards, Teddy | Mississippi Encyclopedia
Apr 14, 2018 · The son and grandson of musicians, Theodore Edwards was born in Jackson in 1924 and started playing alto saxophone in jazz bands as a child.Missing: family background
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Jun 5, 2014 · In 1947, Edwards recorded The Duel with Dexter Gordon, a tenor battle that established him as a West Coast bebop force. He also was on the scene ...
[14]
Teddy Edwards: LA Tenor Legend of Central Avenue - All About Jazz
May 11, 2003 · Club Alabam, Dunbar Hotel, Clark Hotel, The Plantation, were the club scenes for Edwards' playing after arriving here in post WW II. He came ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Teddy Edwards, 78, Deft Star Of Los Angeles Jazz Scene
Apr 23, 2003 · He was soon performing regularly on Central Avenue, the booming jazz strip in Los Angeles, and recording frequently as a leader. Mr ...
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JAZZ : Teddy: Still Ready - Los Angeles Times
Jul 19, 1990 · Teddy Edwards and his saxophone arrived in Los Angeles at just the right time, 1944: The city was flush with activity, and there was an ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[17]
Teddy Edwards Musician - All About Jazz
A pioneer hard bopper on the tenor and recognized as one of the masters in the LA Central Avenue scene, Edwards leaves a huge legacy of recorded music.
[18]
Teddy Edwards | The Independent
Apr 23, 2003 · Theodore Marcus Edwards, tenor saxophone player, composer and arranger: born Jackson, Mississippi 26 April 1924; married (one son); died Los ...Missing: background | Show results with:background
[19]
It's About Time - Teddy Edwards, Les McCann Lt... - AllMusic
Rating 8/10 (7) It's About Time by Teddy Edwards, Les McCann Ltd. released in 1959. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
[20]
New Releases Capture 'Inimitable' Tenor Saxophonist In His ... - NPR
Aug 25, 2016 · As one of the very first bebop tenor saxophonists, Teddy Edwards mixed awesome technique with irresistibly slinky phrases. Jazz critic Kevin ...Missing: 2000s | Show results with:2000s
[21]
Edwards, Teddy | Encyclopedia.com
Diagnosed with Cancer. Edwards was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1994, but he kept the illness quiet, determined to fight back and continue with his career.
[22]
Teddy Edwards - The Telegraph
Apr 28, 2003 · ... 100 Club in London when he and the British saxophonist Dick Morrissey played each other to a standstill. Ill health dogged Edwards's later ...
[23]
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/a-fireside-chat-with-teddy-edwards-teddy-edwards-by-aaj-staff
[24]
Smooth Sailing - Teddy Edwards | Album | AllMusic
Smooth Sailing by Teddy Edwards released in 2003. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
[25]
Teddy Edwards Teddy's Ready! (Contemporary 1960) | FLOPHOUSE
Jul 27, 2018 · The West Coast, Los Angeles to be precise, is where the Jackson, Mississippi-born Edwards had settled in the mid-40s. Edwards made his mark with ...Missing: family background
[26]
Teddy Edwards: The Inimitable - Jazzwise
Best of all, the saxophonist is on form throughout, warm tone and tightly-articulated phrasing intact. Always at ease, languorous lines come with a blues- ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[27]
Jazz Reviews : Teddy Edwards Shows Technical Prowess at Alfonse's
Dec 27, 1988 · The tenor saxophone has been through several cycles of evolution in terms of tone, technique and style. Edwards seems to have absorbed some of ...
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Teddy Edwards [Theodore Marcus Edwards] (born April 26, 1924, Jackson, MS; died April 20, 2003, Los Angeles, CA; aged 78), tenor sax.
[29]
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It's About Time is an album by saxophonist Teddy Edwards with Les McCann's trio recorded in 1959 and released on the Pacific Jazz label. Track listing:
[30]
Waits Does a Guest Turn With Saxophonist Edwards
Nov 22, 1991 · “Mississippi Lad” is Edwards' first album since 1982, and his first on a major label. In addition to Waits, the collection features pianist Art ...
[31]
Teddy Edwards: Smooth Sailing - Album Review - All About Jazz
May 5, 2003 · Teddy Edwards' latest disc, Smooth Sailing, is a fine example of economical playing and arrangement. The saxophonist is joined by pianist ...
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Teddy Edwards - Complete Recordings: 1947-1962 | cactusrecords
... Teddy Edwards was an accomplished composer too, and a natural leader, thus his finest work was witnessed when fronting his own groups and on his own albums ...
[33]
Teddy Edwards Discography
Jazz Legend Teddy Edwards was recorded over 100 times, whether as a leader, or a sideman. Here is his ultimate discography.
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[35]
JAZZ REVIEW : Honor and Applause for Teddy Edwards
Oct 26, 1989 · After a lifetime of labor in jazz, tenor saxophonist Teddy Edwards was honored by his hometown Tuesday with a proclamation from Mayor Tom ...
[36]
Teddy Edwards Dies - JazzTimes
Contributions be sent to the Teddy Edwards Memorial Scholarship Fund, Compton College, 1111 E. Artesia Blvd., Compton, CA 90221. Originally April 23, 2003.
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West Coast Jazz: Scene and heard - Jazzwise
Mar 20, 2025 · ... scene was centered around, but not exclusively, Los Angeles' Central Avenue and was mostly the purview of black American musicians. An ...
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[PDF] THEODORE MARCUS EDWARDS “TEDDY” - Jazz Archeology
Dec 14, 2020 · The tenorsax styles of TE and JK are rather similar, and although I have attributed most soloing to TE, I am not sure, particularly on the slow ...