CHARLES BELL

Charles Bell was a pianist, composer, recording artist, conductor, bandleader, arranger, and music educator.  The Charles Bell Contemporary Jazz Quartet released acclaimed recordings on the Columbia and Atlantic labels and toured Europe.  His compositions were also recorded by Alex Burgnon, George Howard, Long John Balldry, and Vinnie Vin.  Influenced by Bela Bartok and John Lewis of the Modern Jazz Quartet Bell was a proponent of  "Third Stream" jazz movement which is a synthesis of classical music and jazz improvisation.  The Pittsburgh Symphony commissioned Bell to compose a three movement jazz symphony called “Concerto in Miniature of Jazz Quartet and Orchestra” that was performed by the PSO and conducted by Dr. William Steinberg in concert at the Syria Mosque in 1963.  He wrote and performed other pieces for the Baltimore Symphony, the Harlem Youth Symphony Orchestra, and symphony orchestras.  In the late 1960's Bell read more...