Charles Walter "Chuck" Flores (January 5, 1935 - November 24, 2016) was an American

jazz drummer Jazz drumming is the art of playing percussion (predominantly the drum kit, which includes a variety of drums and cymbals) in jazz styles ranging from 1910s-style Dixieland jazz to 1970s-era jazz fusion and 1980s-era Latin jazz. The techniques an ...

. One of the relatively small number of musicians associated with

West Coast jazz West Coast jazz refers to styles of jazz that developed in Los Angeles and San Francisco during the 1950s. West Coast jazz is often seen as a subgenre of cool jazz, which consisted of a calmer style than bebop or hard bop. The music relied rela ...

who were actually from the West Coast, Flores was born in

Orange, California Orange is a city located in North Orange County, California. It is approximately north of the county seat, Santa Ana, California, Santa Ana. Orange is unusual in this region because many of the homes in its Old Town District were built before ...

, and grew up in Santa Ana. He is best known for the work he did with saxophonist

Bud Shank Clifford Everett "Bud" Shank Jr. (May 27, 1926 – April 2, 2009) was an American alto saxophonist and flautist. He rose to prominence in the early 1950s playing lead alto and flute in Stan Kenton's Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra and thro ...

in the 1950s, and for his two-year stint with

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

, from 1954 to 1955, but also performed and recorded with such musicians as

Carmen McRae Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpre ...

Art Pepper Arthur Edward Pepper Jr. (September 1, 1925 – June 15, 1982) was an American alto saxophonist and very occasional tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. Active in West Coast jazz, Pepper came to prominence in Stan Kenton's big band. He was known ...

, Maynard Ferguson,

Al Cohn Al Cohn (November 24, 1925 – February 15, 1988) was an American jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer. He came to prominence in the band of clarinetist Woody Herman and was known for his longtime musical partnership with fellow saxophonist ...

, and

Shelly Manne Sheldon "Shelly" Manne (June 11, 1920 – September 26, 1984) was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, s ...

, who had been his drum teacher. Manne and others considered Flores an underrated drummer. In later years, Flores became a highly sought after and renowned educator whose students included:

Danny Seraphine Daniel Peter Seraphine (born August 28, 1948) is an American drummer, record producer, theatrical producer and film producer. He is best known as the original drummer and a founding member of the rock band Chicago, a tenure which lasted fr ...

Chad Wackerman Chad Wackerman (born March 25, 1960) is an American jazz, jazz fusion and rock drummer, who has played with Frank Zappa and Allan Holdsworth. He has worked as a band member, session musician, sideman, and leader of his own ensembles. He is th ...

, John Wackerman,

Brooks Wackerman Brooks Wackerman (born February 15, 1977) is an American musician. He is the current drummer of heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, which he joined in 2015. His first album with Avenged Sevenfold was '' The Stage'' (2016). He is most known as ...

, Ray Mehlbaum,

Pete Parada Peter Parada (born July 9, 1973) is an American musician who has been a member of several bands. Parada's drumming career began in 1995 when he joined L.A. band World In Pain on a recommendation from future Korn drummer Ray Luzier and then Steel ...

, Jamie Wollam, Jose Ruiz and Zack Stewart. Flores was a longtime faculty member at

Musicians Institute Musicians Institute (MI) is a private for-profit music school in Los Angeles, California. MI students can earn Certificates and – with transfer of coursework taken at Los Angeles City College – Associate of Arts Degrees, as well as Bachelor ...

in Los Angeles.

Discography

As leader

* ''Flores Azules'' (Dobre, 1976) * ''Drum Flower'' (Concord Jazz, 1977)

As sideman

With

Laurindo Almeida Laurindo Almeida (September 2, 1917 – July 26, 1995) was a Brazilian guitarist and composer in classical, jazz, and Latin music. He and Bud Shank were pioneers in the creation of bossa nova. Almeida was the first guitarist to receive Gra ...

* ''Latin Guitar'' (Dobre, 1976) * ''New Directions'' (Crystal Clear, 1979) * ''Virtuoso Guitar'' (Crystal Clear, 1977) With

* ''The Woody Herman Band! Part 1'' (Capitol, 1954) * ''The Woody Herman Band! Part 2'' (Capitol, 1954) * ''The Woody Herman Band! Part 3'' (Capitol, 1954) * ''The Woody Herman Band!'' (Capitol, 1955) * ''Road Band!'' (Capitol, 1955) * ''Blues Groove'' (Capitol, 1956) * ''Jackpot!'' (Capitol, 1956) * ''Hey! Heard the Herd?'' (Verve, 1963) * ''The Third Herd Vol. 2'' (Discovery, 1982) With

* ''

Modern Art Modern art includes artistic work produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the styles and philosophies of the art produced during that era. The term is usually associated with art in which the tradi ...

'' (Intro, 1957) * ''The Art of Pepper'' (Omegatape, 1957) * ''The Art of Pepper Vol. II'' (Omegatape, 1958) * ''Omega Alpha'' (Blue Note, 1981) With

* '' The Bud Shank Quartet'' (Pacific Jazz, 1956) * '' Jazz at Cal-Tech'' (Pacific Jazz, 1956) * '' Bud Shank Quartet Featuring Claude Williamson'' (Pacific Jazz, 1957) * '' Flute 'n Oboe'' (Pacific Jazz, 1957) * ''The Swing's to TV'' (World Pacific, 1958) * ''

Holiday in Brazil ''Holiday in Brazil'' (also released as ''Brazilliance Vol. 2'') is an album by saxophonist Bud Shank with arrangements by Laurindo Almeida released on the Pacific Jazz label.Edwards, D., Eyries, P. and Callahan, M.World Pacific Album Discography ...

'' (Vogue, 1959) * '' Latin Contrasts'' (World Pacific, 1959) * ''

Slippery When Wet ''Slippery When Wet'' is the third studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on August 18, 1986, by Mercury Records in North America and Vertigo Records internationally. It was produced by Bruce Fairbairn, with recording sess ...

'' (World Pacific, 1959) * ''

Blowin' Country ''Blowin' Country'' is an album by saxophonists Bud Shank and Bob Cooper released on the World Pacific label.

'' (World Pacific, 1959) * ''

Bud Shank Plays Tenor ''Bud Shank Plays Tenor'' is an album by saxophonist Bud Shank recorded in late 1957 for the Pacific Jazz label.Brasamba!'' (Pacific Jazz, 1963) * ''Live at the Haig'' (Choice, 1985) With others *

Toshiko Akiyoshi is a Japanese–American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. Akiyoshi received fourteen Grammy Award nominations and was the first woman to win Best Arranger and Composer awards in '' Down Beat'' magazine's annual Readers' Poll. ...

Lew Tabackin Big Band, '' Long Yellow Road'' (RCA 1975) *

Conte Candoli Secondo "Conte" Candoli (July 12, 1927 – December 14, 2001) was an American jazz trumpeter based on the West Coast. He played in the big bands of Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Benny Goodman, and Dizzy Gillespie, and in Doc Severinsen's NBC Orc ...

, Russ Freeman, Art Pepper, '' Mucho Calor'' (Andex, 1958) *

Neshama Carlebach Neshama Carlebach (; born October 9, 1974) is an American teacher, entertainer, singer, and the protégé of her late father, Shlomo Carlebach. Her career as a recording artist and as an occasional essayist has reached interfaith communities and ...

, ''Soul'' (Sameach Music, 1996) *

, Bill Perkins,

Richie Kamuca Richie Kamuca (July 23, 1930 – July 22, 1977) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Musical career Kamuca was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and, like many players associated with West Coast jazz, grew up in the East befo ...

, ''Three of a Kind'' (RCA 1956) *

, Bill Perkins, Richie Kamuca, ''

The Brothers! ''The Brothers!'' is an album by the tenor saxophonists Al Cohn, Bill Perkins and Richie Kamuca recorded in 1955 for the RCA Victor label.Dick Collins, ''Horn of Plenty'' (RCA, 1955) * Dick Collins, ''King Richard the Swing Hearted'' (RCA Victor, 1955) *

Gil Fuller Walter Gilbert "Gil" Fuller (April 14, 1920, Los Angeles, California – May 26, 1994, San Diego, California) was an American jazz arranger. He is no relation to the jazz trumpeter and vocalist Walter "Rosetta" Fuller. In the 1930s and 1940s, Fu ...

, '' Night Flight'' (Pacific Jazz, 1966) * Floyd Huddleston, ''Happy Birthday, Jesus'' (Dobre, 1977) *

, ''The Manne We Love'' (Eastworld, 1979) *

Dodo Marmarosa Michael "Dodo" Marmarosa (December 12, 1925 – September 17, 2002) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Originating in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Marmarosa became a professional musician in his mid-teens, and toured with several ...

Lorraine Geller Lorraine Winifred Geller (née Walsh; September 11, 1928 – October 13, 1958) was an American jazz pianist. Geller was born in Portland, Oregon on September 11, 1928. She started out with the all-female big band Sweethearts of Rhythm, based in ...

, ''West Coast Piano Touch'' (Vantage, 1992) *

, '' The Great American Songbook'' (Atlantic, 1972) *

Shorty Rogers Milton "Shorty" Rogers (born Milton Rajonsky; April 14, 1924 – November 7, 1994) was an American jazz musician, one of the principal creators of West Coast jazz. He played trumpet and flugelhorn and was in demand for his skills as an arran ...

, ''A Live Jam Session Recorded at the Rendezvous Ballroom'' (Jam Session 1979) *

Cy Touff Cyril James Touff (March 4, 1927 in Chicago – January 24, 2003 in Evanston, Illinois) was a jazz bass trumpeter. He was one of the few jazz musicians known as a bass trumpeter. He was also associated with West coast jazz although he spent most o ...

, ''His Octet & Quintet'' (Pacific Jazz, 1956) * Cy Touff, ''Keester Parade'' (Pacific Jazz, 1962)

References

*Feather, Leonard. ''The Encyclopedia of Jazz'' (Horizon Press, 1960)

External links

* Chadbourne, Eugene. "Chuck Flores" (Web site ''allmusic'')br>"Chuck Flores" (Web site ''Drummers Unlimited'')
1935 births Living people American jazz drummers West Coast jazz drummers Jazz musicians from California People from Orange, California People from Santa Ana, California 20th-century American drummers American male drummers 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians {{US-jazz-drummer-stub