Teddy Edwards - The Complete Recordings: 1947 - 1962 (2017)

Alongside such pioneers as Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray, Teddy Edwards earned his place in jazz history as one of the most influential young tenor saxophonists of the late 1940s. However, unlike most of his Afro-American contemporaries who operated from the East coast, Edwards spent much of his career is Los Angeles as part of the cool West Coast scene. During a six decade career, he performed and recorded with such musical legends as Charlie Parker, Max Roach, Clifford Brown, Joe Castro, Roy Milton, Wynonie Harris, Houston Person, Benny Goodman and even Tom Waits. However, Teddy Edwards was an accomplished composer too, and a natural leader, thus his finest work was witnessed when fronting his own groups and on his own albums, most notably during the middle part of his career when he recorded for a host of different labels, including Contemporary, Pacific Jazz and MetroJazz. This collection features four CDs which together collate Teddy Edwards' entire catalogue as bandleader from his earliest 78 recordings to his final albums with Contemporary. Running at almost five hours in total, with all audio faithfully restored, this box set will form the perfect introduction to this unique musician and a welcome reminder of the man's very best work.