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Terry Clark

Jazz

1950s - 2000s

Idiosynchratic post-war jazz trumpeter, cut teeth with both Count Basie and Duke Ellington, steady performer into his 80s.

Biography

No one could ever accuse Clark Terry of solemnity or detachment; his penchant for humor, especially his scat singing and "mumbles" routine often trigger accusations of silliness. But Terry's an excellent modern trumpeter who's perfected among many other things "dialogues" with himself, sometimes playing different instruments and other times alternating between mute and unmuted passages. His tone, range, and solo technique are superb, and he's equally proficient at swing or bebop. Terry worked in local groups around the St. Louis area, then was in a Navy band during World War II with Willie Smith. Upon his discharge, he played with Charlie Barnet in 1947 and Count Basie's small and large groups during the late '40s and early '50s. Terry played with Duke Ellington into the late '50s, appearing on several suites and extended pieces. He worked with Quincy Jones, then was recommended by Ray Copeland for a staff position at NBC after Copeland had to turn it down. Terry worked at NBC through the '60s and early '70s. He appeared regularly on the "Tonight" show, while doing jazz dates with J.J. Johnson and Oscar Peterson, and co-leading a group with Bob Brookmeyer that became popular in the early '60s. There were sessions on Mainstream, Vanguard, Big Bear, Mercury, Impulse and Riverside in the '50s and '60s. Terry began playing flugelhorn in the '50s while in The Ellington orchestra. He included more flugelhorn solos in his repetorie during the '70s, and recorded often for Pablo as well as MPS/BASF and Pausa. He's maintained his activity in the '80s and '90s. Some of Terry's best recorded work can be heard on The Ellington album [roviLink="MW"]Cosmic Scene, while classic Terry dates from the '50s and '60s, plus more recent '70s and '80s cuts are available on CD.

Discography

Influences

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