An excellent and flexible trumpeter,
Ted Curson will always be best known for his work with
Charles Mingus' 1960 quartet (which also included
Eric Dolphy and
Dannie Richmond). He studied at Granoff Musical Conservatory; moved to New York in 1956; played in New York with
Mal Waldron,
Red Garland, and
Philly Joe Jones; and recorded with
Cecil Taylor (1961). After the 1959-1960
Mingus association (which resulted in some classic recordings),
Curson co-led a quintet with
Bill Barron (1960-1965), played with
Max Roach, and led his own groups. He spent time from the late '60s on in Europe (particularly Denmark) but had a lower profile than one would expect after returning to the U.S. in 1976. He led sessions for Old Town (1961), Prestige, Fontana, Atlantic, Arista, Inner City, Interplay, Chiaroscuro, and several European labels.
Curson died of a heart attack on November 4, 2012. He was 77 years old. ~ Scott Yanow