Ted Dunbar

Earl Theodore Dunbar (January 17, 1937 – May 29, 1998) was an American jazz guitarist, composer, and educator.

Career

Born in Port Arthur, Texas, Dunbar trained as a pharmacist at Texas Southern University, but by the 1970s he only did pharmacy work part-time. He was also a trained numerologist and studied other aspects of mysticism. He became interested in jazz at the age of seven. During the 1950s, he joined several groups while studying pharmacy at Texas Southern University.

During the 1960s, he worked as a substitute for Wes Montgomery. Dunbar collaborated with Gil Evans, Roy Haynes, Jimmy Heath, Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, and Tony Williams. In 1972 he became one of the first jazz professors at Rutgers University and taught Kevin Eubanks, Vernon Reid, and Peter Bernstein. At one point he received accolades from Ebony and Down Beat.

He wrote a series of books on tonal convergence that are inspired and related to the Lydian chromatic concept. The centerpiece of this series is entitled A System of Tonal Convergence for Improvisors Composers and Arrangers.

Dunbar died of a stroke in 1998.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

• In Tandem (Muse, 1975 [1980]) with Kenny Barron
• Opening Remarks (1978; Xanadu)
• Secundum Artem (Xanadu, 1980)
• Jazz Guitarist (1982; Xanadu)
• Gentle Time Alone (1992; SteepleChase)

As sideman

With Gene Ammons

• My Way (Prestige, 1971)

With Kenny Barron

• Peruvian Blue (Muse, 1974)

With Richard Davis

• Harvest (Muse, 1977 [1979])

With Gil Evans

• Svengali (Atlantic, 1973)

With Curtis Fuller

• Smokin' (Mainstream, 1972)

With Albert Heath

• Kwanza (The First) (Muse, 1973)

With Willis Jackson

• West Africa (Muse, 1973)

With Charles McPherson

• Siku Ya Bibi (Day of the Lady) (Mainstream, 1972)

With David "Fathead" Newman

• House of David (Atlantic, 1967)
• Resurgence! (Muse, 1981)
• Blue Head (Candid, 1990) with Clifford Jordan

With Don Patterson

• The Return of Don Patterson (Muse, 1972)

With Bernard Purdie

• Purdie Good! (Prestige, 1971)

With Sam Rivers

• Sizzle (Impulse!, 1975)

With Johnny "Hammond" Smith

• What's Going On (Prestige, 1971)

With McCoy Tyner

• Asante (Blue Note, 1970)

With Tony Williams

• Ego (1971)