Charles Owens is a brilliant saxophonist who has an adventurous style. He spent most of his career in low-profile or anonymous positions. Owens was a graduate of the University of San Diego. He served in the military, and he later attended the Berklee College of Music. From 1967 to 1968, he toured with Buddy Rich Orchestra and was then with Mongo Santarmaria the two years after. Owens settled in Los Angeles and became a successful studio musician. He played almost all reed instruments including the English horn and oboe. Patrice Rushen and Bobby Bryant were among his most notable jazz associations after moving to L.A., as well as the Gerald Wilson Orchestra (James Newton, John Carter), the Gerald Wilson Orchestra (James Newton), John Carter, Horace Tapscott and the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Owens is a jazz legend, with original sounds on all his horns. However, he has only released two albums, one for Discovery in 1978 and another for the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Allmusic
