On July 31, 1955, Teddy Charles brought his vibes to a crowd of about 300 at the Berkshire Music Barn.

Teddy Charles Jazz Quartet Plays at Lenox Music Barn

By Milton R. Bass for The Berkshire Eagle.

SOME INTERESTING but unexciting jazz was heard by an audience of 300 at the Berkshire Music Barn in Lenox last night. The Teddy Charles Quartet performed in the manner of their opening number, “Jaywalking.” They kept making stabs in the right direction, but they never quite got across the street.

Composed of Charles on vibraphone, Charles Mingus on bass, J. R. Montrose on tenor saxophone and Alvin Jones on drums, the group was most effective when they drove all out in something like Dizzy Gillespie’s “Night in Tunisia” or when they paced themselves in a slow, easy “Laura.” It was the numbers they tried to think their way through that threw them for a loss.

TEDDY CHARLES plays exciting, imaginative, vibrant vibes, but a poorly placed microphone spoiled most of his efforts during the first half of the program. He was great in “Embraceable You” and “I Can’t Get Started,” and was equally effective with his two or four-mallet technique.

Charles Mingus is one of the great bass players of modern jazz and amply demonstrated his versatility throughout the evening and especially in his solo of “Memories of You.” However, the bass is essentially a harsh, blunt instrument and no matter how virtuoso the performer, there is a certain loss of melodic line when the instrument is too dominant in a group. Mr. Mingus overrode all opposition in the quartet, not only with his instrument but also with his personality.

J.R. MONTROSE plays a fine, driving tenor and his solo work and background counterpoint were most effective within his chosen range. He kept Charlie Parker’s memory green with his rendition of “Barbados” and drove hard and clean in several of his other solos. Alvin Jones backed up the group with a solid beat and handled his solo opportunities in a workmanlike manner.

Robert Reisner, as usual, was a gasser with the intermission commentary.