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Ted Dunbar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ted Dunbar
Birth nameEarl Theodore Dunbar
Born(1937-01-17)January 17, 1937
Port Arthur, Texas, U.S.
DiedMay 29, 1998(1998-05-29) (aged 61)
New Brunswick, New Jersey
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentGuitar
LabelsXanadu

Earl Theodore Dunbar (January 17, 1937 – May 29, 1998) was an American jazz guitarist, composer, and educator.

Career

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Born in Port Arthur, Texas, Texas, Dunbar trained as a pharmacist at Texas Southern University, but by the 1970s he only did pharmacy work part-time. He was also a trained numerologist and studied other aspects of mysticism.[1] He became interested in jazz at the age of seven. During the 1950s, he joined several groups while studying pharmacy at Texas Southern University.

During the 1960s, he worked as a substitute for Wes Montgomery. Dunbar collaborated with Gil Evans, Roy Haynes, Jimmy Heath, Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, and Tony Williams.[1] In 1972 he became one of the first jazz professors at Rutgers University and taught Kevin Eubanks, Vernon Reid, and Peter Bernstein. At one point he received accolades from Ebony and Down Beat.

He wrote a series of books on tonal convergence that are inspired and related to the Lydian chromatic concept. The centerpiece of this series is entitled A System of Tonal Convergence for Improvisors Composers and Arrangers.

Dunbar died of a stroke in 1998.[1]

Discography

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As leader

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  • Opening Remarks (Xanadu, 1978)
  • Secundum Artem (Xanadu, 1980)
  • In Tandem with Kenny Barron (Muse, 1980)
  • Music for Violin & Jazz Quartet with NY5 (Jam, 1981)
  • Jazz Guitarist (Xanadu, 1982)
  • Gentle Time Alone (SteepleChase, 1992)
  • A Tribute to Wes Montgomery Vol. I with Project G-7 (Evidence, 1993)
  • A Tribute to Wes Montgomery Vol. II with Project G-7 (Evidence, 1993)

As sideman

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With Frank Foster

  • Bursting Out! (Challenge, 1978)
  • Chiquito Loco (Bingow, 1979)
  • Shiny Stockings (Challenge, 1979)
  • A Blues Ain't Nothing But a Trip (Bingow, 1981)
  • Swing! (Challenge, 1998)

With others

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Ted Dunbar Is Dead; Jazz Guitarist, 61". The New York Times. 6 June 1998. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
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