WORD FROM TEDDY CHARLES , Vibist.
En route to the Netherlands, my friend of many years, Teddy Charles, called on the cell to tell me he had left his home on Long Island for Europe. A Concert tour of Paris, and the Netherlands,including the most prestigious Jazz Festival in Europe, had materialised, and he and his trusty Deagan vibes were on their way to set the world on fire again! With him are his hand picked Band from NY.

There is a tremendous interest in his music, and he has been in the Studios in NY recording a lot. He even recorded with Teo Macero a couple of weeks before Macero died.TC is a brilliant genius, and founder along with Mingus of the Avant Garde Jazz Movement in the world. Changed Jazz FOREVER. Changed the way we think of our instruments, and ourselves.

My group "Suezenne Fordhm Chamber JazzL is directly inspired by Teddy, as he was a close friend and teacher, helping me to clear my ears and see beyond what the others were doing...In addition toVibes, he played piano, and in return for Vibes and harmony lessons, I gave him lessons in piano tecnic, as I was a student at the time at the Juilliard, and had some great chops.{still do.}

A cat with a terrific sense of humor, and delving mind into all things intellectual, he was for many years the owner of the Schooner "The Mary E" until his real love, music called him back. He sold her, and gave his s0ul to his music wholeheartedly again, though the "business" of music Bugs him [still.]

Godspeed, Old Friend, and in spite of your fears, this is NOT the end,you'll be safe, it is just the beginning.

SUEZENNE
SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA

I wish you the best, my friend, and safe travels, and i know how leery you are of planes, BUT if you are who YOU are, do it, and live up to your legacy... there many thousands out there who are waiting to hear what an 80 year old genius can do .SHOW THEM!!! Don't worry, you'll be safe.
God Love you.

EMERITUS MEMBERS
SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA

TEDDY CHARLES {Theodire Cohen] Vibist, Deagan Artist
Longtime friend and legendary composer and collaboraror of Charles Mingus, and founder of the Avant Garde Movement in NY in the '50s,60's and 70s. Still doin'it in NY, with recordings, and appearances at such huge venues as the Vangard, and the Iridium. Still a sea faring man, of Schooners. AND a DOGIST!!!

NOAH GARABEDIAN, Contrabassist
Sent to me by the first Bassist with my LA group, Roberto Miranda, Noah arrived at the door of my studio begging for a chance to play with my Avant Garde Trio, Noah was a knock- kneed kid with a toothy grin, and chops that wouldn't quit.His first gig with the group was so difficult his fingers bled, as he was a student at UCLA, and wasn't prepared with adequate callouses to endure strenuous playing fo extended periods of time Of course he had BIG EARS, and a heart to match.. He was with my Trio for four years, wending his way into my psyche and being. A very intuitive player, he had the uncanny ability to read my mind musically and personally.He eventually left for the Jazz Life in New York.[Brooklyn.] I am hoping he will freeze his buns off, and return to LA,to rejoin SFCJLA....He was actually my Scotty La Faro...Awsome Dude.

RICHARD DAVIS, CONTRABASSIST
The one Bassist who literally changed the entire way of playing Jazz on the Contrabass, using the Bow with a scrupulous Classical tecnique, and Bowing genius. When he first arrived in NY at the Embers on E 64th Street, he was fresh out of Northwstern University in Chicago, and the more knowledgable musicians in town were knocked out, He had the ultimate career in NY, all the best Jazz gigs, sometimes playing with the NY Philharmonic when their Bass section couldn't get horrifically difficult passages together on compositions by Stockhausen, Varese, or Stravinsky. Richard was my FIRST Bassist in forming a duo and Trio in NY, At one point we even had a DUO with just Contrabass and Vibes.. I LOVED his Contrabass, which was a majestic instrument with a carved wood Lion's Head as the scroll. He now is the head of the String Dept at the University of Wisconson in Madison, and in very active in Human Rights movements... The Consumate Musician, Friend and Humanitarian.
Suezenne Fordham,SFCJLA

SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA CONCERTS THROUGH THE END OF 2008

Steinway Hall
12121 West Pico Blvd at Bundy
West LA, Ca.
818 371 7735
Free, Donations accepted
Thursday, October 30th 7 30 PM-10PM

PERMANANT ENSEMBLE INCLUDES:
SUEZENNE FORDHAM, Steinway, Gu Xheng
Charlie Domingo, Contrabass
Rochelle Coatney,Drums Percussion
Cassidy Turbin, Drums, Percussion

SPECIAL GUEST ARTIST
Bob Carr, Bassoon, and Saxes

MEMBER EMERITUS
Teddy Charles, Vibist and Deagan[vibes] Artist

Entire Ensemble plays Tibetan Percussion

Upcoming concerts in 2008:
South Pasadena Library Chamber Music Concert Hall
1115 El Centro,
South Pasadena, Ca.
Sunday,November 9th 7 30 PM
SPECIAL GUEST ARTIST
Bob Carr, Bassoonist, Saxes

Tibetan Percussion is played by the entire Ensemble

Steinway Hall at Fields Pianos
12121 West Pico Blvd at Bundy
Thursday December 4th 08