Quartette Tres Bien / Charles Williams

[Dan Gould]

I found an album reference stating that the under-recorded alto saxophonist Charles/Charlie/CI Williams worked with the Quartette Tres Bien for two years ... Can anyone shed light on whether he recorded with them? Discogs is no help.

 

Thanks in advance.

[JSngry]

Not on any of the albums  I've heard.

They were popular on one of the blogs from The Golden Age Of The Blogosphere, but by no means was it complete. Plus, there's singles from St. Louis.

https://www.discogs.com/artist/1433721-Quartette-Trés-Bien

It was a somewhat interesting group, in a really niche-y kind of way. Commercial, but not stupid. At least not always.

[Teasing the Korean]

On 5/27/2024 at 4:16 PM, JSngry said:

It was a somewhat interesting group, in a really niche-y kind of way. Commercial, but not stupid. At least not always.

They were basically working in Three Sounds/Ramsey Lewis territory, with the addition of Latin Percussion.  Yet another example of secondhand Decca LPs being hard to find.  I have two of their Decca albums, and one on Atlantic.

[JSngry]

It was an "arrangement" type group. Not a "blowing" group at all. But interesting enough, in their own way.

[mjazzg]

On 6/12/2024 at 4:39 PM, Teasing the Korean said:

They were basically working in Three Sounds/Ramsey Lewis territory, with the addition of Latin Percussion.  Yet another example of secondhand Decca LPs being hard to find.  I have two of their Decca albums, and one on Atlantic.

At least one Decca made it over here, I have it and enjoy it. 

I recall posting a question about them when it was bought and both you and Jsngry obliged with responses. 

Edited September 15, 2024 by mjazzg

[andybleaden]

The Steppin out lp I remember seeing quite a bit in UK Secondhand record shops - remember hearing it and was nearly tempted and also Boss Tres Bien and quite liked the title track - in fact - now I have just also found a version on youtube and that floats my Sunday morning stuck in because it is raining boat! 

 

[Mark13]

Saw one of their Decca's in an Amsterdam recordshop not too long ago and decided against it. I have a polystyrene Jubilee which sounds horrific and this one looked and felt alarmingly like that one. There were other records that were tempting so I didn't even bother to listen. Maybe I should have.

I think the Atlantic is their only title on CD and this is where I learned about the group. It's an enjoyable souljazz album, but nothing spectacular.

Edited September 16, 2024 by Mark13

[Kurt Anderson]

Jeter Thompson is a fine piano player in the Ramsey Lewis/ Ray Bryant tradition, but the signature sound of the QTB was the amazing congas of percussionist Percy James.  They also tended to feature one or more original African themed tracks on their records,  such as Kilimanjaro and Blues for the Congo.

The QTB got their start in the Gaslight Square clubs in St. Louis in the early to mid sixties,  and were likely the most modern group on that scene.  Their first two records were issued on the small Norman label in St. Louis,  which, after Decca signed the band, were quickly reissued with different covers as their national debut. Six or so other Decca records followed,  of which the one that's eluded me all these years is Stepping Out.

Interestingly, at least four of the Decca releases were produced by Milt Gabler of Commodore Record Store fame.

[Rabshakeh]

I quite like their records but I wish Jeter Thompson would have chilled out a bit. Ramsey Lewis knew not to play too many notes.

Edited 17 hours ago by Rabshakeh

[rostasi]

Still love that sound - probably a big part because not only were they played a lot in our house,
but my mother would take me to the London House (and/or the Plugged Nickel) to see them.
I remember Jeter Thompson sitting in our recording room with my mother interviewing him.
I think I have around a dozen of those albums.