Denis Charles

Denis Alphonso Charles (December 4, 1933 – March 26, 1998) was a jazz drummer.

Biography Charles was born in St. Croix, Virgin Islands,

Charles died four days after a five-week European tour with the Borgmann/Morris/Charles (BMC) Trio, with Wilber Morris and Thomas Borgmann. His last concert with this trio took place at the Berlin's Willy-Brandt-Haus. With the BMC Trio he recorded some albums in his last two years. A fifth CD was released after he died: The Last Concert - Dankeschön, Silkheart Records, 1999.

In 2002, Veronique Doumbe released a film documentary, Denis A. Charles: An Interrupted Conversation, about the life of Charles.

Discography As leader or co-leader 1989: Queen Mary (Silkheart) 1991: Captain of the Deep (Eremite) 1992: A Scream for Charles Tyler (Adda) 1998: Drum Talk (Wobbly Rail) with Susie Ibarra

As sideman With Cecil Taylor 1956: Jazz Advance (Transition) 1958: At Newport (Verve) 1959: Looking Ahead! (Contemporary) 1959: Love for Sale (United Artists) 1959: In Transition (Blue Note) 1960: The World of Cecil Taylor (Candid) 1960: Air (Candid) 1961: Cell Walk for Celeste (Candid) 1961: Jumpin' Punkins (Candid) 1961: New York City R&B (Candid) with Buell Neidlinger

With Steve Lacy 1958: Soprano Sax (Prestige) 1963: School Days 1979: Capers (hat Hut) 1982: The Flame (Soul Note)

With Gil Evans 1959: Great Jazz Standards (World Pacific)

With Sonny Rollins 1962: What's New? (RCA Victor)

With Archie Shepp 1967: The Magic of Ju-Ju (Impulse!)

With Peter Kuhn 1979: Livin' Right (Big City) 1981: The Kill (Soul Note)

With Billy Bang 1981: Rainbow Gladiator (Soul Note) 1982: Untitled Gift (Anima) 1982: Invitation (Soul Note) 1982: Bangception (hat MUSICS, 1983); reissued as Bangception, Willisau 1982 (HatOLOGY, 1998) 1988: Valve No. 10 (Soul Note) 1996: Spirits Gathering (CIMP)

With Jemeel Moondoc 1981: Konstanze's Delight (Soul Note) 1981: We Don't (Eremite, issued 2003) 1986: Nostalgia in Times Square (Soul Note)

With Wilber Morris and Charles Tyler 1981: Collective Improvisations (Bleu Regard, 1994)

With The Jazz Doctors (Rafael Garrett, Frank Lowe, Billy Bang) 1983: Intensive Care (Cadillac)

With Rob Brown 1990: Breath Rhyme (Silkheart)

With William Parker 1980: Through Acceptance of the Mystery Peace (Centering) 1995: In Order to Survive (Black Saint)

With John Blum (pianist) 1998: Astrogeny (Eremite, 2005)

With Raphe Malik 1999: ConSequences (Eremite)

With Sirone 2005: Live (Atavistic)