Charles Tyler (musician)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Charles Lacy Tyler (July 20, 1941 – June 27, 1992) was an American jazz
saxophonist The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to pr ...
. He focused on baritone & alto saxophone and also played clarinet.


Biography

Tyler was born in
Cadiz, Kentucky Cadiz ( ) is a home rule-class city and the county seat of Trigg County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,558 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Clarksville metropolitan area. Cadiz is a historic town located close to the Land ...
, United States, and spent his childhood years in
Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
. He played
piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...
as a child and
clarinet The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The instrument has a nearly cylindrical bore and a flared bell, and uses a single reed to produce sound. Clarinets comprise a family of instruments of differing sizes and pitches ...
at the age of seven, before switching to alto saxophone in his early teens, and finally
baritone saxophone The baritone saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of instruments, larger (and lower-pitched) than the tenor saxophone, but smaller (and higher-pitched) than the bass. It is the lowest-pitched saxophone in common use - the bass, contra ...
. During the summers, he visited
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
,
Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
,
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
and
Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
,
Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
, where he met the young tenor saxophonist
Albert Ayler Albert Ayler (; July 13, 1936 – November 25, 1970) was an American avant-garde jazz saxophonist, singer and composer. After early experience playing R&B and bebop, Ayler began recording music during the free jazz era of the 1960s. Howev ...
at age 14. After serving in the army from 1957–1959, Tyler relocated to Cleveland in 1960 and began playing with Ayler, commuting between New York and Cleveland. During that period played with
Ornette Coleman Randolph Denard Ornette Coleman (March 9, 1930 – June 11, 2015) was an American jazz saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter, and composer known as a principal founder of the free jazz genre, a term derived from his 1960 album '' Free Jazz: A Colle ...
and
Sunny Murray James Marcellus Arthur "Sunny" Murray (September 21, 1936 – December 7, 2017) was an American musician, and was one of the pioneers of the free jazz style of drumming. Biography Murray was born in Idabel, Oklahoma, where he was raised by an ...
. In 1965, Tyler recorded ''Bells'' and ''Spirits Rejoice'' with Ayler's group. He recorded his first album as leader the following year for
ESP-Disk ESP-Disk is a New York-based record company and label founded in 1963 by lawyer Bernard Stollman. History Though it originally existed to release Esperanto-based music, beginning with its second release (Albert Ayler's ''Spiritual Unity''), ESP b ...
. He returned to Indianapolis to study with David Baker at
Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. Campuses Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI. *Indiana Universit ...
between 1967 and 1968, recording a second album for ESP, ''
Eastern Man Alone ''Eastern Man Alone'' is the second album by American jazz saxophonist Charles Tyler (musician), Charles Tyler, which was recorded in 1967 and released on ESP-Disk.
''. In 1968, he transferred to the
University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant u ...
to study and teach. In Los Angeles, he worked with
Arthur Blythe Arthur Murray Blythe (May 7, 1940 – March 27, 2017) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. He was described by critic Chris Kelsey as displaying "one of the most easily recognizable alto sax sounds in jazz, big and round, with a f ...
,
Bobby Bradford Bobby Lee Bradford (born July 19, 1934) is an American jazz trumpeter, cornetist, bandleader, and composer. In addition to his solo work, Bradford is noted for his work with John Carter, Vinny Golia and Ornette Coleman. In October 2009, Bradfo ...
, and David Murray. He moved back to New York in 1974, leading his own groups with Blythe, trumpeter Earl Cross, drummer
Steve Reid Steve Reid (January 29, 1944 – April 13, 2010) was an American jazz drummer who played with Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, James Brown, Fela Kuti, Kieran Hebden, and Sun Ra. He worked as a session drummer for Motown. Biography Born ...
and others, recording the album ''Voyage from Jericho'' on Tyler's own Akba label. In 1975, Tyler enrolled at
Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
and made an extensive tour of Scandinavia, releasing his second Akba album ''Live in Europe''. In 1976, he performed the piece "Saga of the Outlaws" at Sam Rivers's Studio Rivbea, released two years later on
Nessa Records Nessa Records is an American jazz record label founded in Chicago in 1967 by producer Chuck Nessa. After working at Delmark Records for a year, Nessa started the label at the urging of Roscoe Mitchell and Lester Bowie. The first album was releas ...
.''Saga of the Outlaws'' Original Liner Notes by Michael Cuscuna During that period he played as a sideman or co-leader with Steve Reid,
Cecil Taylor Cecil Percival Taylor (March 25, 1929April 5, 2018) was an American pianist and poet. Taylor was classically trained and was one of the pioneers of free jazz. His music is characterized by an energetic, physical approach, resulting in complex ...
and
Billy Bang Billy Bang (September 20, 1947 – April 11, 2011), born William Vincent Walker, was an American free jazz violinist and composer. Biography Bang's family moved to New York City's Bronx neighborhood while he was still an infant, and as a ...
. In 1982, during a European tour with
Sun Ra Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific out ...
's Orchestra, he relocated to
Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...
, Denmark, and in 1985 he moved to France, recording with other expatriates like
Khan Jamal Khan Jamal (July 23, 1946 – January 10, 2022), born Warren Robert Cheeseboro, was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. He founded the band Sounds of Liberation in 1970. He was described by Ron Wynn as "a proficient soloist when p ...
in Copenhagen and Steve Lacy in Paris.''Live at Sweet Basil'' Original Liner Notes Tyler died in
Toulon Toulon (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Tolon , , ) is a city on the French Riviera and a large port on the Mediterranean coast, with a major naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, and the Provence province, Toulon is th ...
, France, of heart failure in June 1992.


Discography


As leader

* '' Charles Tyler Ensemble'' (
ESP Disk ESP-Disk is a New York-based record company and label founded in 1963 by lawyer Bernard Stollman. History Though it originally existed to release Esperanto-based music, beginning with its second release (Albert Ayler's '' Spiritual Unity''), ESP ...
, 1966) * ''
Eastern Man Alone ''Eastern Man Alone'' is the second album by American jazz saxophonist Charles Tyler (musician), Charles Tyler, which was recorded in 1967 and released on ESP-Disk.
'' (ESP Disk, 1967) * ''Voyage from Jericho'' (AK-BA, 1975) * ''Live in Europe: Jazz Festival Umea'' (AK-BA, 1977) * ''Saga of the Outlaws'' (
Nessa Nessa Diab, known mononymously as Nessa, is an American radio and TV personality and television host. Early life and education Nessa was born to an Egyptian father and mother. She has two brothers. She grew up in Southern California but her ...
, 1978) * ''Sixty Minute Man'' ( Adelphi, 1980) * ''Folk and Mystery Stories'' (
Sonet Synchronous optical networking (SONET) and synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) are standardized protocols that transfer multiple digital bit streams synchronously over optical fiber using lasers or highly coherent light from light-emitting diode ...
, 1980) * ''Definite Volume 1'' ( Storyville, 1982) * ''Definite Volume 2'' (Storyville, 1984) * ''Live at Green Space'' with
Billy Bang Billy Bang (September 20, 1947 – April 11, 2011), born William Vincent Walker, was an American free jazz violinist and composer. Biography Bang's family moved to New York City's Bronx neighborhood while he was still an infant, and as a ...
(Anima, 1982) * ''Autumn in Paris'' ( Silkheart, 1988) * ''Folly Fun Music Magic'' (Bleu Regard, 1992) * ''Mid Western Drifter'' (Bleu Regard, 1992) * ''Live at Sweet Basil Volume 1'' (Bleu Regard, 2006) * ''Live at Sweet Basil Volume 2'' (Bleu Regard, 2006) * ''At WKCR'' (Sinner Lady Gloria, 2014)


As sideman

With
Albert Ayler Albert Ayler (; July 13, 1936 – November 25, 1970) was an American avant-garde jazz saxophonist, singer and composer. After early experience playing R&B and bebop, Ayler began recording music during the free jazz era of the 1960s. Howev ...
* '' Bells'' (ESP Disk, 1965) * ''
Spirits Rejoice ''Spirits Rejoice'' is a live album by American free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler recorded in New York City in 1965 and first released on the ESP-Disk label.
'' (ESP Disk, 1965) * ''Bells Prophecy'' (ESP Disk, 1997) With
Billy Bang Billy Bang (September 20, 1947 – April 11, 2011), born William Vincent Walker, was an American free jazz violinist and composer. Biography Bang's family moved to New York City's Bronx neighborhood while he was still an infant, and as a ...
* ''
Rainbow Gladiator ''Rainbow Gladiator'' is an album by the American jazz violinist Billy Bang recorded in 1981 and released on the Italian Soul Note label.
'' (
Soul Note Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz. History Black S ...
, 1981) * ''Invitation'' (Soul Note, 1982) * ''Outline No. 12'' (
Celluloid Celluloids are a class of materials produced by mixing nitrocellulose and camphor, often with added dyes and other agents. Once much more common for its use as photographic film before the advent of safer methods, celluloid's common contemporar ...
, 1982) With
Steve Reid Steve Reid (January 29, 1944 – April 13, 2010) was an American jazz drummer who played with Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, James Brown, Fela Kuti, Kieran Hebden, and Sun Ra. He worked as a session drummer for Motown. Biography Born ...
* ''Rhythmatism'' (Mustevic Sound, 1976) * ''Odyssey of the Oblong Square'' (Mustevic Sound, 1977) With others *
Denis Charles Denis Alphonso Charles (December 4, 1933 – March 26, 1998) was a jazz drummer. Biography Charles was born in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, and first played bongos at age seven with local ensembles in the Virgin Islands. In 1945, he moved to Ne ...
, Remi Charmasson, Bernard Santacruz, ''A Scream for Charles Tyler'' (Bleu Regard, 1992) *
Eugene Chadbourne Eugene Chadbourne (born January 4, 1954) is an American banjoist, guitarist and music critic. Life and career Chadbourne was born in Mount Vernon, New York, but grew up in Boulder, Colorado. He started playing guitar when he was eleven or twel ...
, ''Boogie with the Hook'' ( Leo, 1996) *
Ted Daniel Ted Daniel (born June 4, 1943) is an American jazz trumpeter and composer. Biography He studied trumpet in elementary school, and began his professional career playing local gigs with his childhood friend, the legendary guitarist Sonny Sharrock. ...
, ''In the Beginning'' (Altura Music, 1997) * Richard Dunbar, ''Running Buddies Vol. 1'' (Jahari, 1983) * John Fischer, ''6x1=10 Duos for a New Decade'' (ReEntry, 1980) *
Khan Jamal Khan Jamal (July 23, 1946 – January 10, 2022), born Warren Robert Cheeseboro, was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. He founded the band Sounds of Liberation in 1970. He was described by Ron Wynn as "a proficient soloist when p ...
, ''Dark Warrior'' (SteepleChase, 1984) * Steve Lacy, '' One Fell Swoop'' (Silkheart, 1987) *
Wilber Morris Wilber Morris (November 27, 1937 - August 8, 2002) was an American jazz double bass player and bandleader. He was the brother of the cornetist, composer, and conductor Butch Morris.Allmusic/ref> Wilber Morris recorded widely, and performed with ...
, ''Collective Improvisations'' (Bleu Regard, 1994) *
Hal Russell Hal Russell (born Harold Russell Luttenbacher, August 28, 1926 – September 5, 1992) was an American free jazz composer, band leader and multi-instrumentalist who performed mainly on saxophone and drums but occasionally on trumpet or vibrapho ...
, ''
Generation A generation refers to all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively. It can also be described as, "the average period, generally considered to be about 20–⁠30 years, during which children are born and gr ...
'' (Chief, 1989)


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tyler, Charles 1941 births 1992 deaths ESP-Disk artists Nessa Records artists American jazz baritone saxophonists Free jazz saxophonists 20th-century American saxophonists