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A superior altoist whose bluesy sound is often more accessible than the music he plays,
Carlos Ward is best known as a valuable sideman. He grew up in Seattle, started on clarinet when he was 13, and while in the military studied at the Navy School of Music. He had opportunities to play music while stationed in Germany (including with
Albert Mangelsdorff), where he heard
Eric Dolphy, a major influence on his sound. After being discharged,
Ward sat in regularly with
John Coltrane during "'Trane's" 1965 visit to Seattle, and after moving to New York, he also played with
Coltrane's unrecorded octet.
Ward freelanced in New York, performing with top "new jazz" artists including
Sunny Murray,
Don Cherry,
Sam Rivers,
Rashied Ali, and
Paul Motian. He joined
the Jazz Composers' Orchestra, yet also was a part of
B.T. Express, a big-selling funk group.
More important in the long run was his meeting pianist/composer
Abdullah Ibrahim, with whom
Ward has played off and on since 1973. Other important associations include membership in
Don Cherry's mid-'80s bands, as well as filling in for the late
Jimmy Lyons with
the Cecil Taylor Unit in 1986.
Carlos Ward's first recording as a leader was, Lito, a quartet date with
Woody Shaw for Leo in 1988. ~ Scott Yanow