Clifford Brown

In Concert Clifford Brown

The Max Roach-Clifford Brown Quintet started its

tragically short run at the beginning of 1954. The first

formation included--in addition to Max and Brownie--

tenor saxophonist Teddy Edwards, bassist George

Bledsoe and pianist Carl Perkins. This group was

recorded only once, during a concert at the Pasadena

Civic Auditorium on July 13, 1954, which is presented

here along with an August 31, 1954 performance on

which the first stable formation of the quintet is heard,

with the piano and bass chairs filled by pianist Richie

Powell (Bud Powell's younger brother) and bassist

George Morrow, and with Harold Land as the tenor

player. This fantastic formation was destined to end in

tragedy, for in the early morning hours of June 26, 1956,

Clifford Brown died in a car accident (at the age of 25)

along with pianist Richie Powell and the latter's wife.