Theodore Marcus Edwards (April 26, 1924 – April 20, 2003) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.

Biography

Edwards was born in Jackson, Mississippi, United States. He learned to play at a very early age, first on

alto saxophone The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments. Saxophones were invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. The alto saxophone is pitched in E, smaller than the B tenor ...

and then

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 ...

. His uncle sent for him to come to Detroit to live because he felt opportunities were better. Due to illness in the family, he went back to Jackson and ventured to Alexandria, Louisiana. He was persuaded by

Ernie Fields Ernest Lawrence Fields (August 28, 1904 – May 11, 1997)Laprarie, Michael Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'' (accessed May 14, 2010). was an American trombonist, pianist, arranger and bandleader. He first became known for leadin ...

to join his band after going to Tampa, Florida. Edwards had planned to go to New York City, but Fields convinced him he could get there by way of Washington, D.C., if he worked with his band. Edwards ended up at the "Club Alabam" on Central Avenue in Los Angeles, which later became his city of residence. Edwards played with many jazz musicians, including his personal friend Charlie Parker, Roy Milton,

Wynonie Harris Wynonie Harris (August 24, 1915 – June 14, 1969) was an American blues shouter and rhythm-and-blues singer of upbeat songs, featuring humorous, often ribald lyrics. He had fifteen Top 10 hits between 1946 and 1952. Harris is attributed by ma ...

, Vince Guaraldi,

Joe Castro Joseph Armand Castro (August 15, 1927 – December 13, 2009) was an American bebop jazz pianist, based primarily on the West Coast of the United States. Biography Castro was born in Miami, Arizona on August 15, 1927. Castro began playing professi ...

and Ernie Andrews. A 1947 recording with Dexter Gordon, '' The Duel'', was an early challenge to another saxophonist an approach he maintained whenever possible, including a recording with Houston Person. One such duel took place in the 1980s at London's

100 Club The 100 Club is a music venue located at 100 Oxford Street, London, England, where it has been hosting live music since 24 October 1942. It was originally called the Feldman Swing Club, but changed its name when the father of the current owner ...

with British tenor

Dick Morrissey Richard Edwin Morrissey (9 May 1940 – 8 November 2000) was a British jazz musician and composer. He played the tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone and flute. Biography Background He was born in Horley, Surrey, England. Dick Morrissey emerg ...

. In 1964, Edwards played with

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...

at Disneyland, and at the

1964 New York World's Fair The 1964–1965 New York World's Fair was a world's fair that held over 140 pavilions and 110 restaurants, representing 80 nations (hosted by 37), 24 US states, and over 45 corporations with the goal and the final result of building exhibits or ...

. Edwards performed and recorded with Tom Waits. He toured with him on the Heart Attack and Vine tour, and played to a packed Victoria Apollo in London with Waits and a bassist (the drummer had apparently been left behind after some dispute). The 1991 album, ''Mississippi Lad'', featured two tracks with Waits, and Waits covers the Edwards-written ballad "Little Man" on his '' Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards'' collection. He died in Los Angeles of

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancerous tumor worldwide and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that sur ...

, with which he had been diagnosed in 1994, at the age of 78.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

*1947 ''The Foremost!'' – with Dexter Gordon (Onyx #201; shared various artists LP with Leo Parker and Wardell Gray) *1948 ''Central Avenue Breakdown, Vol. 1'' (Onyx #212; shared various artists LP with Vivien Garry/

Arv Garrison Arvin Charles Garrison (August 17, 1922 – July 30, 1960) was an American jazz guitarist. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, and spent most of his life there. Garrison taught himself ukulele at age nine and played guitar for dances and local functio ...

and Dodo Marmarosa) *1949 ''Central Avenue Breakdown, Vol. 2'' (Onyx #215; shared various artists LP with

Barney Kessel Barney Kessel (October 17, 1923 – May 6, 2004) was an American jazz guitarist born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Known in particular for his knowledge of chords and inversions and chord-based melodies, he was a member of many prominent jazz groups a ...

and

Slim Gaillard Bulee "Slim" Gaillard (January 9, 1911 – February 26, 1991), also known as McVouty, was an American jazz singer and songwriter who played piano, guitar, vibraphone, and tenor saxophone. Gaillard was noted for his comedic vocalese singing ...

) *1958 ''

Sonny Rollins at Music Inn/Teddy Edwards at Falcon's Lair ''Sonny Rollins at Music Inn/Teddy Edwards at Falcon's Lair'' is a live split album featuring saxophonists Sonny Rollins and Teddy Edwards, recorded for the MetroJazz label in 1958.

'' ( Metrojazz) with

split album A split album (or split) is a music album that includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There are also singles and EPs of the same variety, which are often called "split singles" and "split EPs" respectively. Split albums differ from "var ...

featuring

Sonny Rollins Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7, 1930) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. In a seven-decade career, he has recorded over sixty albums as a ...

tracks *1959 '' It's About Time'' (Pacific Jazz) with

Les McCann Leslie Coleman McCann (born September 23, 1935) is an American jazz pianist and vocalist.Feather, Leonard, and Ira Gitler (2007), ''The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz'', p. 448. Oxford University Press. Early life Les McCann was born in ...

*1960 ''

Sunset Eyes ''Sunset Eyes'' is an album by saxophonist Teddy Edwards recorded in 1960 and released on the Pacific Jazz Records, Pacific Jazz label.Pacific Jazz Pacific Jazz Records was a Los Angeles-based record company and label best known for cool jazz or West coast jazz. It was founded in 1952 by producer Richard Bock (1927–1988) and drummer Roy Harte (1924–2003). Harte, in 1954, also co-founded ...

; reissued on Blue Note) *1960 ''

Teddy's Ready! ''Teddy's Ready!'' is an album by saxophonist Teddy Edwards which was recorded in 1960 and released on the Contemporary label.Contemporary) *1960 ''

Back to Avalon ''Back to Avalon'' is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. Released in 1988, it yielded the hit singles " Nobody's Fool (Theme from ''Caddyshack II'')" (a #8 hit in the U.S.), "I'm Gonna Miss You", "Tell Her", and ...

'' (Contemporary) *1961 ''

Together Again!!!! ''Together Again!!!!'' is an album by trumpeter Howard McGhee and saxophonist Teddy Edwards which was recorded in 1961 and released on the Contemporary Records, Contemporary label.Howard McGhee (Contemporary) *1961 ''

Good Gravy! ''Good Gravy!'' is an album by saxophonist Teddy Edwards which was recorded in 1961 and released on the Contemporary label.

'' (Contemporary) *1962 '' Heart & Soul'' (Contemporary) *1966 ''

Nothin' But the Truth! ''Nothin' But the Truth!'' is an album by saxophonist Teddy Edwards which was recorded in 1966 and released on the Prestige Records, Prestige label.

'' ( Prestige) *1967 '' It's All Right!'' (Prestige) *1974 '' Feelin's'' ( Muse) *1976 ''

The Inimitable Teddy Edwards ''The Inimitable Teddy Edwards'' is an album by saxophonist Teddy Edwards recorded in 1976 and released on the Xanadu label.Xanadu Xanadu may refer to: * Shangdu, the ancient summer capital of Kublai Khan's empire in China * a metaphor for opulence or an idyllic place, based upon Coleridge's description of Shangdu in his poem ''Kubla Khan'' Other places * Xanadu (Titan), ...

) *1979 '' Young at Heart'' ( Storyville) with Howard McGhee *1979 ''

Wise in Time ''Wise in Time'' is an album by trumpeter Howard McGhee and saxophonist Teddy Edwards recorded in 1978 and released on the Storyville label.

'' (Storyville) with Howard McGhee *1980 '' Out of This World'' (

SteepleChase Steeplechase may refer to: * Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles * Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...

) *1981 ''

Good Gravy ''Good Gravy'' is a live album by saxophonist Teddy Edwards recorded at the Bimhuis in 1981 and released on the Timeless label.

'' ive(

Timeless Timeless (or atemporal) or timelessness (or atemporality) may refer to: * Agelessness, the condition of being unaffected by the passage of time * Akal (Sikh term), timelessness in Sikhism * Eternity, timeless existence or infinite duration * Immo ...

) *1991 ''

Mississippi Lad ''Mississippi Lad'' is an album by saxophonist Teddy Edwards featuring Tom Waits on two tracks which was recorded in 1991 and originally released on the French Verve/Gitanes label in Europe and on Antilles Records in the US.Verve/Gitanes) featuring Tom Waits *1993 ''

Blue Saxophone ''Blue Saxophone'' is an album by saxophonist Teddy Edwards recorded in 1992 and released on the French Verve/Gitanes label.La Villa: Live in Paris'' (Verve/Gitanes) *1994 '' Tango in Harlem'' (Verve/Gitanes) - released 1995 *1994 ''

Horn to Horn ''Horn to Horn'' is an album by saxophonists Teddy Edwards and Houston Person which was recorded in 1994 and first released on the Muse label in 1996.

'' (Muse) with Houston Person - released 1996 *1996 ''

Close Encounters In ufology, a close encounter is an event in which a person witnesses an unidentified flying object. This terminology and the system of classification behind it were first suggested in astronomer and UFO researcher J. Allen Hynek's 1972 book ''Th ...

'' ( HighNote) with Houston Person - released 1999 *1997 '' Midnight Creeper'' (HighNote) *1999 ''

Sunset Eyes 2000 ''Sunset Eyes 2000'' is an album by trumpeter Saskia Laroo and saxophonist Teddy Edwards which was recorded in 1999 and released on the Laroo label.Saskia Laroo Saskia Laroo (born 31 July 1959 in Amsterdam), is a Dutch jazz musician who has been dubbed the "Lady Miles Davis". Her music style can be described as a combination of jazz, pop, electronic dance music, Latin and world music. Biography The begi ...

*2000 ''

Ladies Man A ladies' man or lady's man is a man who enjoys spending time socially with women, who strives to please them and that women find attractive. Ladies' man or lady's man may also refer to: Literature * ''Ladies' Man'' (novel), a 1978 novel by R ...

'' (HighNote) *2000 ''The Legend of Teddy Edwards'' (Cope) - soundtrack *2001 '' Smooth Sailing'' (HighNote) - released 2003

As sideman

With Frank Butler *'' Wheelin' and Dealin''' (Xanadu, 1978) With

*''

Groove Funk Soul ''Groove Funk Soul'' was the second album led by American jazz pianist Joe Castro which was released on the Atlantic label in 1960.Sonny Criss *''

Sonny's Dream (Birth of the New Cool) ''Sonny's Dream (Birth of the New Cool)'' is an album by saxophonist Sonny Criss recorded in 1968 and released on the Prestige label.Richard "Groove" Holmes *'' Get Up & Get It!'' – includes Pat Martino on guitar (Prestige, 1967) *'' Welcome Home'' (World Pacific, 1968) With

Milt Jackson Milton Jackson (January 1, 1923 – October 9, 1999), nicknamed "Bags", was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms. He is especially remembered for his cool swinging solo ...

*''

That's the Way It Is That's the Way It Is may refer to: *'' Elvis: That's the Way It Is'', a 1970 documentary film about Elvis Presley * ''That's the Way It Is'' (Elvis Presley album), a 1970 album by Elvis Presley * "That's the Way It Is" (Mel and Kim song), a 1988 so ...

'' (Impulse!, 1969) *'' Just the Way It Had to Be'' (Impulse!, 1969) *'' Memphis Jackson'' (Impulse!, 1969) With King Pleasure *''Golden Days'' (HiFi Jazz, 1960; reissued on

Original Jazz Classics Original Jazz Classics (or OJC) is a record label that founded in 1983 as an imprint of Fantasy Records. Under this name original editions of jazz LPs have been reissued on CD and LP, and formerly on cassette as well. The recordings in the seri ...

) With

Hank Jones Henry Jones Jr. (July 31, 1918 – May 16, 2010) was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, arranger, and composer. Critics and musicians described Jones as eloquent, lyrical, and impeccable. In 1989, The National Endowment for the Arts honored ...

*'' Ain't Misbehavin''' (Galaxy, 1978) With

Julie London Julie London (née Peck; September 26, 1926 – October 18, 2000) was an American singer and actress whose career spanned more than 40 years. A torch singer noted for her sultry, languid contralto vocals, London recorded over thirty albums ...

* ''

Feeling Good "Feeling Good" (also known as "Feelin' Good") is a song written by English composers Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the musical ''The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd''. It was first performed on stage in 1964 by Cy Gr ...

'' ( Liberty, 1965) With Shelly Manne *''

My Son the Jazz Drummer! ''My Son the Jazz Drummer!'' (subtitled ''Modern Jazz Versions of Jewish and Israeli Songs'') is an album by drummer Shelly Manne performing jazz adaptations of traditional and contemporary Jewish music, recorded in 1962 and released on the Contem ...

'' (Contemporary, 1962) With

*'' Les McCann Sings'' (Pacific Jazz, 1961) *''

McCann/Wilson ''McCann/Wilson'' is an album by pianist Les McCann with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra recorded in 1964 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.Freed., RLes McCann Discographyaccessed January 12, 2016 Reception Allmusic gives the album 3 stars. ...

'' (Pacific Jazz, 1964) with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra With Howard McGhee *''West Coast 1945-1947'' (Uptown, 2014) With Freddie Redd *''

Everybody Loves a Winner ''Everybody Loves a Winner'' is an album by American jazz pianist Freddie Redd recorded in 1990 and released on the Milestone Records, Milestone label.Fitzgerald, M.Freddie Redd Leader Entry accessed April 8, 2015.Fitzgerald. M.Milestone label dis ...

'' (Milestone, 1990) With Max Roach and

Clifford Brown Clifford Benjamin Brown (October 30, 1930 – June 26, 1956) was an American jazz trumpeter and composer. He died at the age of 25 in a car accident, leaving behind four years' worth of recordings. His compositions "Sandu", "Joy Spring", an ...

*''Max Roach and Clifford Brown In Concert'' (Gene Norman Presents, 1954; reissued on GNP Crescendo) With Jimmy Smith *''

Bluesmith ''Bluesmith'' is a 1972 jazz album by Jimmy Smith (musician), Jimmy Smith, released on the Verve Records, Verve label.

'' (

Verve Verve may refer to: Music * The Verve, an English rock band * ''The Verve E.P.'', a 1992 EP by The Verve * ''Verve'' (R. Stevie Moore album) * Verve Records, an American jazz record label Businesses * Verve Coffee Roasters, an American coffee ho ...

, 1972) With Leroy Vinnegar *''

Leroy Walks! ''Leroy Walks!'' is the debut album by American jazz bassist Leroy Vinnegar recorded in 1957 and released on the Contemporary label.

'' – includes Gerald Wilson on trumpet (Contemporary, 1958) *''

Leroy Walks Again!! ''Leroy Walks Again!!'' is the second album by American jazz bassist Leroy Vinnegar recorded in 1962 and 1963 and released on the Contemporary label.

'' (Contemporary, 1963) With Gerald Wilson *''

You Better Believe It! ''You Better Believe It!'' is an album by Jazz musician and bandleader Gerald Wilson. Recorded in 1961 for the Pacific Jazz label,

'' (Pacific Jazz, 1961) *'' Moment of Truth'' (Pacific Jazz, 1962) *'' Portraits (Pacific Jazz, 1964) *'' On Stage'' (Pacific Jazz, 1965) *'' Feelin' Kinda Blues'' (Pacific Jazz, 1965) *''

The Golden Sword ''The Golden Sword'', published in 1977, is a science fantasy novel by American writer Janet Morris Janet Ellen Morris (born May 25, 1946) is an American author of fiction and nonfiction, best known for her fantasy and science fiction and ...

'' (Pacific Jazz, 1966)

References

External links

Teddy Edwards
at The A-1 Artists Agency.
Interview with Teddy Edwards
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Teddy 1924 births 2003 deaths American jazz tenor saxophonists American male saxophonists Cool jazz saxophonists West Coast jazz saxophonists Hard bop saxophonists Bebop saxophonists Musicians from Jackson, Mississippi Xanadu Records artists Muse Records artists HighNote Records artists Blue Note Records artists Antilles Records artists Timeless Records artists SteepleChase Records artists Contemporary Records artists 20th-century American saxophonists Jazz musicians from Mississippi 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians