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TEDDY EDWARDS - Feelin’s

Xanadu 906077

Teddy Edwards ( tnr ) Conte Candoli ( tpt ) Dolo Coker ( pno ) Ray Brown ( bass ) Frank Butler ( drs ) Jerry teinholz ( congas / percussion ).
Recorded Hollywood, 25th March 1974

Teddy Edwards is not in the top echelon of tenor saxophone players but he is a player of some distinction. Born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1924 he worked with a large number of territory bands before moving to Los Angeles in 1944 where he played with Howard McGhee, Dexter Gordon and Benny Carter among others.

He worked under his name in later years and was in demand as a soloist and recording artist,and making a solo tour of Europe in 1984. Probably his best known gig was with the Clifford Brown / Roach Quintet in 1954.

This is Teddy Edwards first recording in seven years but this was a fallow period for players of Teddy Edwards persuasion who did not follow the latest trends.

Four of the composition out of the six tracks are Teddy Edwards’ originals, one by bassist Ray Brown and one standard “Georgia On My Mind“.

Tenor player has put together an all star line up with the only fly in the ointment being conga drummer Jerry Steinholz who has a tendency to make each track have a sameness.
The album opens with a Teddy Edwards original, “Bear Tracks” which is a typical 60 / 70s pieces with a down home feel which has a wailing solo by Teddy Edwards.

It’s a change of mood for “April Love” with an expressive theme which brings out the best in Teddy Edwards and includes a nicely balanced solo by Conte Candoli, pianist Dolo Coker also contributes an expressive solo.

Ray Brown’s bass is much in evidence on his own “Ritta Ditta Blues” and from giving strong support to the soloists he also contributes a fine solo. Some of Teddy Edwards and Conte Candoli’s best work is on this track.

The one standard on the album is given the ballad treatment and has a thoughtful solo by Teddy E3dwards which builds to a fitting climax.

Although Teddy Edwards is not one of the top flight tenor players it is nevertheless fitting that we have this long awaited example of his later work.

To be critical Frank Butler is more than capable of taking care in the percussion department without the need for a conga drummer.
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Reviewed by Roy Booth


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