Charles ‘Chuck’ Langford has immediate openings – saxophone, flute, and clarinet – in the Gardner Lesson Studios.
Applications are being accepted now for lessons in the Leominster Studios; these lessons will begin in October.
Originally from Texarkana, TX, by way of Springfield, MA, Charles L began playing saxophone at the age of nine. Coming out of a musically rich and diverse town, which spawned artists such as Phil Woods, Taj Majal and Avery Sharpe, Charles began his musical training at home with his mother, classical vocalist Mary L. Prior to reading music, with the instruction of Mary, Charles learned his favorite saxophone solos note for note, starting with Paul Desmond’s solo from “A Bridge over Troubled Water.” He began studying with Harvey LaRose, Phil Wood’s saxophone teacher, at 10.
Charles began playing saxophone professionally at 13. Two years later, Charles Majeed Greenlee, Dizzy Gillespie’s trombonist and the husband of John Coltrane’s cousin Mary, became one of Charles’ first mentors. From that point, Charles began sitting in at every opportunity with one of his most influential teachers, Archie Shepp. Charles also spent countless hours listening to the musicians who would become profound influences on his musical growth such as Grover Washington Jr., David Sanborn, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Kenny G, Michael Brecker, Stan Getz, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis.
After high school, Charles studied music at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with teachers Max Roach, Yusef Lateef, Archie Shepp and Lynn Klock. He then went to Houston, where he opened for George Benson. Charles continued his musical study in New York City, attending The New School. He lived in New York for four years, playing with Melvin Spark’s, Norman Connors, The Temptations, Hilton Ruiz and Joe Farnsworth while studying with Barry Harris, Donald Byrd and Billy Harper. Charles was then afforded the opportunity to study privately with the great George Coleman.
Since completing his formal education, Charles has toured world wide with artists The Temptations, Solomon Burke, Mighty Sam McClain and Toni Lynn Washington. Charles’ CD ‘That’s Wassup’ released in 2008, was nominated for a Grammy.
Charles now takes his gift of playing saxophone, and the extraordinary education he has received, into the realm of teaching
