MONTCLAIR N.J. (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Jazz trumpeter Ted Curson who played with the likes of Charlie Mingus, Cecil Taylor and Bill Barron died on Sunday in Montclair of heart failure. He was 77 at the time of his death.
A Philadelphia native, Curson attended the Granoff School of Music before moving to New York on the suggestion of Miles Davis.
A versatile performer who could move between styles like postbop and free jazz with ease Curson played with Cecil Taylor's quintet in the 1950s, and early 1960s, including on the album "Love for Sale" in 1959. Curson also performed with the legendary Charlie Mingus in the 1960s, both on tour and in the studio, notably so on “Mingus at Antibes.”
Subsequently, Curson founded his own band with Bill Barron, recording numerous albums, including what is probably his best known work, "Tears for Dolphy."
While Curson never quite achieved widespread recognition in the U.S., he was quite well known in Finland, where he played annually at the Pori Jazz Festival since its inception.
Curson is survived by his wife, two children, and six grandchildren. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
