Charles Tyler (musician)

Charles Lacy Tyler (July 20, 1941 – June 27, 1992) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist.

Biography

Tyler was born in Cadiz, Kentucky, and spent his childhood years in Indianapolis. He played piano as a child and clarinet at 7, before switching to alto in his early teens, and finally baritone saxophone. During the summers, he visited Chicago, New York City and Cleveland, Ohio, where he met the young tenor saxophonist Albert Ayler at age 14. After a stint in the army from 1957–1959, Tyler relocated to Cleveland in 1960 and began playing with Ayler, conmuting between New York and Cleveland.^[1] During that period he got to jam with Ornette Coleman and Sunny Murray.^[2] In 1965 he recorded with Ayler's group Bells and Spirits Rejoice.^[3]

Tyler recorded his first album as leader in 1966 for ESP-Disk. He returned to Indianapolis to study with David Baker at Indiana University between 1967 and 1968, recording a second album for ESP, Eastern Man Alone.^[4] In 1968, Tyler transferred to the University of California, Berkeley, to study and teach. In Los Angeles, Tyler worked with Arthur Blythe, Bobby Bradford, and David Murray.^[3]

He moved back to New York in 1974, leading his own freebop groups with Blythe, trumpeter Earl Cross, drummer Steve Reid and others, recording the album Voyage from Jericho on Tyler's own Akba label.^[1] In 1975, Tyler enrolled at Columbia University, and he made an extensive tour of Scandinavia releasing his second Akba album Live in Europe. In 1976, he performed the piece Saga of the Outlaws at Sam Rivers' Studio Rivbea, released two years later on Nessa Records.^[2] During that period he played as sideman or co-leader with Steve Reid, Cecil Taylor and Billy Bang.^[5]

In 1982, during a European tour with Sun Ra's Orchestra, he relocated to Denmark, and in 1985 he moved to France, recording with other expatriates like Khan Jamal in Copenhagen and Steve Lacy in Paris.^[5]

Tyler died in Toulon, France of heart failure in June 1992.

Discography

As leader

• 1966: Charles Tyler Ensemble (ESP-Disk) with Charles Moffett, Joel Freedman, Henry Grimes, Ronald Shannon Jackson
• 1967: Eastern Man Alone (ESP-Disk) with David Baker (Cello), Brent McKesson, Kent Brinkley (b)
• 1974: Voyage from Jericho (Akba) with Ronnie Boykins, Earl Cross, Steve Reid, Arthur Blythe
• 1975: Live in Europe (Akba) with Ronnie Boykins (bass); Steve Reid (drums, percussion); Melvin Smith (guitar)
• 1976: Saga of the Outlaws (Nessa Records) with Earl Cross, Steve Reid, Ronnie Boykins, John Ore
• 1979: Sixty Minute Man (Adelphi Records) Solo
• 1980: Folk and Mystery Stories (Sonet) with Wilber Morris, Steve Reid, Richard Dunbar, David Baker, John Ore
• 1981: Definite, Vol. 1 & 2 (Storyville Records) with Earl Cross, Kevin Ross, Steve Reid
• 1984: Live at Sweet Basil vol. 1 & 2 (Bleu Regard, issued 2006)
• 1988: Autumn in Paris (Silkheart) with Arne Forsén
• 1992: Mid Western Drifter (Bleu Regard) with Didier Levallet, Curtis Clark
• 1992: Folly Fun Magic Music (Bleu Regard) with Bernard Santacruz (contrabass); Remi Charmasson (guitar); Christian Zagaria (violin); Jean-Pierre Jullian (drums)

As sideman

With Albert Ayler

• Bells (ESP, 1965)
• Spirits Rejoice (ESP, 1965)

With Billy Bang

• Rainbow Gladiator (Soul Note, 1981)
• Invitation (Soul Note, 1982)
• Live at Green Space (Anima, 1982)
• Outline No. 12 (Celluloid, 1982)

With Wilber Morris

• Collective Improvisations (Bleu Regard, 1981)

With Hal Russell

• Generation (Nessa, 1982)

With Khan Jamal

• Dark Warrior (Steeplechase, 1984)

With Steve Lacy

• One Fell Swoop (Silkheart Records, 1986)

References