Inspired by pianist Lennie Tristano, tenor saxophonist Ted Brown (above) came up in what we now call the cool school of jazz. Saxophonists who played in this style tended to blow in dryer, pastel tones while keeping a rigid sense of time while unspooling long ribbons of improvised lines. Though Brown studied with Tristano, his sound shares much with tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh, with whom he first recorded in 1956.
In 2006 and 2010, Brown's quartet—Brown on tenor saxophone, Jon Easton on piano, Don Messina on bass and Bill Chattin on drums—appeared at Trumpets in Montclair, N.J. Fortunately for us, Don Messina recorded the gigs. The music on Ted Brown Quartet Live at Trumpets (Cadence) is terrific. It's melodic and as delightfully dry as a cold glass of Sancerre.
The first five tracks—Somebody Loves Me, Relaxin' at Camarillo, Love Me or Leave Me, Sweet and Lovely, and Broadway—were recorded in August 2006. The remaining four—When You're Smiling, The Best Thing for You (Would Be Me), Pennies From Heaven and Anthropology—were recorded in August 2010. [Photo above of Don Messina]
What makes this album so special is how all four members of the group operate hand in glove. Brown's horn is delightfully woody and melodic, as if he's singing the songs in his head as he plays. Easton's piano is impeccable with a strong passion for Tristano. Don's bass throbs throughout and is the instrument that gets your foot tapping. And Chattin's drums are sheer and serve as the fabric that brings everything together, especially when he's on brushes. [Photo above of the Ted Brown Quartet at Trumpets on Aug. 6, 2011 by Mark Weber]
Born in Rochester, N.Y., on Dec. 1, 1927, Brown moved with his family to Southern California in 1942 when his father was stationed there during World War II. Brown began on the banjo but switched to the violin and then the clarinet and tenor saxophone. His uncle taught him the latter two instruments. Brown played with his father, a guitarist who encouraged him to improvise and transcribe records. The rest of Brown's bio you can read at his site here. It's quite a fascinating story.
Brown recorded as a leader with Art Pepper (Free Wheeling in 1956) and on albums by Lee Konitz (Lee Konitz Meets Jimmy Giuffre in 1959, Figure and Spirit in 1976, Sound of Surprise in 1999 and Dig-It in 1999) and several albums by Warne Marsh and pianist Hod O'Brien. He also recorded a series of leadership albums starting in the 1980s.
Ted Brown is 89.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Ted Brown Quartet: Live at Trumpets (Cadence) here.
JazzWax clip: Here's Pennies From Heaven...
A special thanks to Don Messina.
