Search - Teddy Edwards :: Teddy's Ready

Get Ready For Teddy

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 09/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I might not be up to date on the hippest new indie rock bands, and I am just getting my feet wet in classical, but I consider myself a jazz aficionado. With that being said I had no idea who Teddy Edwards was. I had never even noticed his CDs, and had never seen him on any session. When I saw this album listed on Amazon, my curiosity was piqued. I checked the Penguin Guide to gauge their opinion. Feeling satisfied that it was worth the investment, I ordered it. Let me tell you, this album is fantastic! Teddy was beyond ready to cut his first session as a leader by the time he was 36, and after playing with the likes Max Roach, Howard McGhee and Benny Carter. This recording was made in August 1960 with Joe Castro on piano (someone else I'd never heard of), Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Billy Higgins on drums. The material is divided between well-known standards, like "Scrapple From The Apple," "What's New?" and "Take The 'A' Train," and Edwards originals "Blues In G," "You Name It" and "Higgins' Hideaway" (the remaining track, "The Sermon," is by Hampton Hawes). Edwards and company swing hard and play terrifically on all the cuts. With several other titles currently available, I'm looking forward to getting to know Teddy better."

Guaranteed to put you in a good mood

Matthew Watters | Vietnam | 02/05/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The opening track lets you know where Teddy's coming from, a swinging "Blues in G" that demonstrates how Edwards combined a Coleman Hawkins-like sound, and an easy, seemingly effortless facility on his horn, with a swooping, R&B-like conception. (In the album's liner notes, Edwards recalls his days playing behind the girls in burlesque shows, and you can still hear it in his tone.) On Teddy's Ready, however, it's the second track that really seals the deal, demonstrating that this was a quartet that had already played together for months and one that was really interested in forging a group conception. Their version of Charlie Parker's "Scrapple from the Apple" eschews the usual opportunity to just show off how fast the hornman can play by building the tune from the bottom up, around a fast walking bass line (and strumming solo) by Leroy Vinnegar. Drummer Billy Higgins is also really loose and clearly having a great time, and it sets the stage for the rest of the set, during which nothing groundbreaking takes place, but you'll definitely crack a smile."