Charles Walter "Chuck" Flores (January 5, 1935 - November 24, 2016) was an American jazz drummer. One of the relatively small number of musicians associated with

West Coast jazz West Coast jazz refers to styles of jazz that developed in Los Angeles and San Francisco during the 1950s. West Coast jazz is often seen as a subgenre of cool jazz, which consisted of a calmer style than bebop or hard bop. The music relied rela ...

who were actually from the West Coast, Flores was born in

Orange, California Orange is a city located in North Orange County, California. It is approximately north of the county seat, Santa Ana. Orange is unusual in this region because many of the homes in its Old Town District were built before 1920. While many othe ...

, and grew up in Santa Ana. He is best known for the work he did with saxophonist

Bud Shank Clifford Everett "Bud" Shank Jr. (May 27, 1926 – April 2, 2009) was an American alto saxophonist and flautist. He rose to prominence in the early 1950s playing lead alto and flute in Stan Kenton's Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra and thr ...

in the 1950s, and for his two-year stint with

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

, from 1954 to 1955, but also performed and recorded with such musicians as

Carmen McRae Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpre ...

Art Pepper Arthur Edward Pepper Jr. (September 1, 1925 – June 15, 1982) was an American alto saxophonist and very occasional tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. Active in West Coast jazz, Pepper came to prominence in Stan Kenton's big band. He was known ...

Maynard Ferguson Walter Maynard Ferguson CM (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often serv ...

Al Cohn Al Cohn (November 24, 1925 – February 15, 1988) was an American jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer. He came to prominence in the band of clarinetist Woody Herman and was known for his longtime musical partnership with fellow saxophonist ...

, and

Shelly Manne Sheldon "Shelly" Manne (June 11, 1920 – September 26, 1984) was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, ...

, who had been his drum teacher. Manne and others considered Flores an underrated drummer. In later years, Flores became a highly sought after and renowned educator whose students included:

Danny Seraphine Daniel Peter Seraphine (born August 28, 1948) is an American drummer, record producer, theatrical producer and film producer. He is best known as the original drummer and a founding member of the rock band Chicago, a tenure which lasted from F ...

, Chad Wackerman, John Wackerman, Brooks Wackerman,

Ray Mehlbaum Automatic 7 is an American rock trio. Formed in 1993, they have released three albums to date. They released their debut album self-titled ''Automatic 7'' on November 22, 1995, on BYO Records. Band members John Hulett (vocals and guitar), Nic Ni ...

Pete Parada Peter Parada (born July 9, 1973) is an American musician who has been a member of several bands. Parada's drumming career began in 1995 when he joined L.A. band World In Pain on a recommendation from future Korn drummer Ray Luzier and then Steel ...

, Jamie Wollam, Jose Ruiz and Zack Stewart. Flores was a longtime faculty member at

Musicians Institute Musicians Institute (MI) is a private for-profit music school in Los Angeles, California. MI students can earn Certificates and – with transfer of coursework taken at Los Angeles City College – Associate of Arts Degrees, as well as Bachel ...

in Los Angeles.

Discography

As leader

* ''Flores Azules'' (Dobre, 1976) * ''Drum Flower'' (Concord Jazz, 1977)

As sideman

With

Laurindo Almeida Laurindo Almeida (September 2, 1917 – July 26, 1995) was a Brazilian guitarist and composer in classical, jazz, and Latin music. He and Bud Shank were pioneers in the creation of bossa nova. Almeida was the first guitarist to receive Gra ...

* ''Latin Guitar'' (Dobre, 1976) * ''New Directions'' (Crystal Clear, 1979) * ''Virtuoso Guitar'' (Crystal Clear, 1977) With

* ''The Woody Herman Band! Part 1'' (Capitol, 1954) * ''The Woody Herman Band! Part 2'' (Capitol, 1954) * ''The Woody Herman Band! Part 3'' (Capitol, 1954) * ''The Woody Herman Band!'' (Capitol, 1955) * ''Road Band!'' (Capitol, 1955) * ''Blues Groove'' (Capitol, 1956) * ''Jackpot!'' (Capitol, 1956) * ''Hey! Heard the Herd?'' (Verve, 1963) * ''The Third Herd Vol. 2'' (Discovery, 1982) With

* ''

Modern Art Modern art includes artistic work produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the styles and philosophies of the art produced during that era. The term is usually associated with art in which the tradi ...

'' (Intro, 1957) * ''The Art of Pepper'' (Omegatape, 1957) * ''The Art of Pepper Vol. II'' (Omegatape, 1958) * ''Omega Alpha'' (Blue Note, 1981) With

* ''

The Bud Shank Quartet ''The Bud Shank Quartet'' is an album by Bud Shank recorded in January 1956 for the Pacific Jazz label.Jazz at Cal-Tech ''Jazz at Cal-Tech'' is an album by saxophonist Bud Shank recorded in January 1956 for the Pacific Jazz label.Bud Shank Quartet Featuring Claude Williamson ''Bud Shank Quartet Featuring Claude Williamson'' is an album by Bud Shank recorded in November 1956 for the Pacific Jazz label.Flute 'n Oboe ''Flute n Oboe'' (full title ''The Flute and the Oboe of Bud Shank and Bob Cooper'') is an album by Bud Shank and Bob Cooper recorded in November 1956 for the Pacific Jazz label.Holiday in Brazil'' (Vogue, 1959) * ''

Latin Contrasts ''Latin Contrasts'' (also released as ''Brazilliance Vol. 3'') is an album by saxophonist Bud Shank with arrangements by Laurindo Almeida first released on the World Pacific label in 1959.Edwards, D., Eyries, P. and Callahan, M.World Pacific Album ...

'' (World Pacific, 1959) * '' Slippery When Wet'' (World Pacific, 1959) * '' Blowin' Country'' (World Pacific, 1959) * '' Bud Shank Plays Tenor'' (Record Society, 1962) * ''

Brasamba! ''Brasamba!'' is an album by saxophonist Bud Shank, pianist Clare Fischer and guitarist Joe Pass released on the Pacific Jazz label.

'' (Pacific Jazz, 1963) * ''Live at the Haig'' (Choice, 1985) With others *

Toshiko Akiyoshi is a Japanese–American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. Akiyoshi received fourteen Grammy Award nominations and was the first woman to win Best Arranger and Composer awards in '' Down Beat'' magazine's annual Readers' Poll. ...

Lew Tabackin Big Band, '' Long Yellow Road'' (RCA 1975) *

Conte Candoli Secondo "Conte" Candoli (July 12, 1927 – December 14, 2001) was an American jazz trumpeter based on the West Coast. He played in the big bands of Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Benny Goodman, and Dizzy Gillespie, and in Doc Severinsen's NBC O ...

, Russ Freeman, Art Pepper, ''

Mucho Calor ''Mucho Calor'' (subtitled ''A Presentation in Latin Jazz'') is an album by trumpeter Conte Candoli and alto saxophonist Art Pepper in an octet with tenor saxophonist Bill Perkins (saxophonist), Bill Perkins, pianist Russ Freeman (pianist), Russ Fr ...

'' (Andex, 1958) * Neshama Carlebach, ''Soul'' (Sameach Music, 1996) *

, Bill Perkins, Richie Kamuca, ''Three of a Kind'' (RCA 1956) *

, Bill Perkins, Richie Kamuca, '' The Brothers!'' (RCA Victor, 1956) *

Dick Collins Richard Harrison Collins (July 19, 1924 – April 19, 2016) was an American jazz trumpeter. Collins was born in Seattle on July 19, 1914. Several of his parents and grandparents were professional musicians. Collins attended Mills College in 1946� ...

, ''Horn of Plenty'' (RCA, 1955) * Dick Collins, ''King Richard the Swing Hearted'' (RCA Victor, 1955) * Gil Fuller, '' Night Flight'' (Pacific Jazz, 1966) *

Floyd Huddleston Floyd Huddleston (August 19, 1918 - September 27, 1991) was an American songwriter, screenwriter, and television producer. Career Huddleston was born in Leland, Mississippi, and would later sing and write songs for Glenn Miller's Army Air Force ...

, ''Happy Birthday, Jesus'' (Dobre, 1977) *

, ''The Manne We Love'' (Eastworld, 1979) * Dodo Marmarosa & Lorraine Geller, ''West Coast Piano Touch'' (Vantage, 1992) *

, '' The Great American Songbook'' (Atlantic, 1972) * Shorty Rogers, ''A Live Jam Session Recorded at the Rendezvous Ballroom'' (Jam Session 1979) * Cy Touff, ''His Octet & Quintet'' (Pacific Jazz, 1956) * Cy Touff, ''Keester Parade'' (Pacific Jazz, 1962)

References

*Feather, Leonard. ''The Encyclopedia of Jazz'' (Horizon Press, 1960)

External links

* Chadbourne, Eugene. "Chuck Flores" (Web site ''allmusic'')br>"Chuck Flores" (Web site ''Drummers Unlimited'')
1935 births Living people American jazz drummers West Coast jazz drummers Jazz musicians from California People from Orange, California People from Santa Ana, California 20th-century American drummers American male drummers 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians {{US-jazz-drummer-stub