ARTS

What: Ted Curson
When: Thursday, May 10, sets 7:30-11:30 pm
Where: 6 Depot Square, Montclair, NJ 07042
Cost: $10, $5 min

In New York, Ted played with such notables as Mal Waldron, Red Garland and Philly Joe Jones. It was in 1959 that Ted became a member of the famed Charles Mingus big band where he played alongside Eric Dolphy. About this time Ted recorded with Cecil Taylor and in 1961 recorded his first ‘solo’ album, “The New thing & The Blue Thing” for Atlantic Records. 

In the early sixties Ted Curson was very active. He co-led a quintet with Bill Barron and he played with such jazz greats as Max Roach, Booker Ervin, Andrew Hill and Archie Shepp. He also recorded and performed with other musicians including rock legends, Little Richard, Lloyd Price and Chuck Jackson.

During the late 1960s Ted spent a great deal of time in Europe and Scandinavia, primarily Denmark and Finland. Today he remains one of the most popular musicians in Finland where his commercial endorsements can be seen in billboard ads throughout the country, including bigger-than-life milk ads in the country’s airport.Ted has appeared at almost every major jazz festival. He hosted the famed Blue Note’s Late Night Jam Sessions during the 1980s and appears there on a regular basis. Although his main instrument is the trumpet, Ted is also a master on the piccolo trumpet (usually a classical instrument) and the flugelhorn.