Carlos Ward


Carlos Ward is a funk and jazz alto saxophonist and flautist. He is best known as a member of the Funk and disco band BT Express as well as a jazz sideman.

Biography

Carlos Ward's first instrument was the clarinet at the age of 13 when he lived in Seattle, Washington, where he had relocated from Panama City. Later he attended the Navy School of Music and worked with Albert Mangelsdorff when he was stationed in Germany.
His first major effort was his work with John Coltrane in the period 1965-66, although not appearing on any records.His major contribution was with the 70's Funk band B.T. Express.
He recorded with Karl Berger's Quartet on ESP, with Henry Grimes and Ed Blackwell. The same quartet, with Dave Holland in place of Henry Grimes, recorded for MIlestone in 1968.
He had a long-lasting association with Don Cherry: from The Third World through his appearance as featured soloist on the 1973 recording of Cherry's Relativity Suite to the band Nu during the 1980s and beyond.
His duet association with pianist Abdullah Ibrahim has also been significant to his career.
Ward was a member of Cecil Taylor's group in the period immediately after altoist Jimmy Lyons death in 1986.
He also was a member of The Ed Blackwell Project, and led his own quartet in 1987.

Discography

As leader

With Karl Berger
With the Ed Blackwell Project
With Carla Bley
With Don Cherry
With Paul Motian
With Don Pullen & The African-Brazilian Connection
With Roswell Rudd and the Jazz Composers Orchestra
With Abdullah Ibrahim
  • The Journey
  • African Marketplace as Dollar Brand
  • Dollar Brand at Montreux as Dollar Brand
  • Water from an Ancient Well
  • South Africa
With Rashied Ali'