A competent vibraphonist, Mr ''Charles'' had a fruitfull and innovative musical career, although overlooked. If not ranking amongst the top players, his flexibility led him, during the 50's, to record as a sideman with ''Miles'', ''Mingus'', ''Pettiford'', or ''Slim Gaillard''. Then busy doing his own stuff, including a good dozen records for ''Prestige'', he eventually became a producer, before completely retiring from music for some silly "I'm off to the Caribbean" reason, where he happily lived until a late come-back to NYC in the 80's. A very interesting personnality, highly contrasting with the traditionnal hard-bop myths-and-misery clichés, jazz fans should definitely take a closer hear to their ''Mingus'' to catch him, or even try his very own ''Evolution'' (''Prestige'').