Search - Clark Terry :: Happy Horns of Clark Terry

A Legendary Jazz Musician

Edward Abbott | Stuart, FL USA | 12/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

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This all-star CD has plenty of memorable moments. Flugelhornist Clark Terry teams up with altoist Phil Woods (who doubles on clarinet), tenor great Ben Webster, pianist Roger Kellaway, bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Walter Perkins for a varied program that includes a rollicking version of "Rockin' in Rhythm," Bix Beiderbecke's "In a Mist," a Duke Ellington medley and "Return to Swahili" which is mostly a flugelhorn-drums duet. The is pure jazz as it should be, by the greats in one great session that just isn't done today.



One of the few in jazz, where you will never hear a bad word about Clark Terry. He has that happy go lucky attitude about him. Nothing ever seems to get him down ,he is always ready with a smile or a joke to share.



And as a musician he is always on top of his game and ready to jam or record on a moments notice. That in and of itself is a rarity today.



This was recorded in 1964 and is as fresh today as when it was recorded. Like so many of Clark Terrys albums, none of them sound dated and this is true of this album.



One of the great finds in his canon, don't pass this opportunity to acquire for your library.





About Clark Terry:



A fantastic, legendary musician who has accomplished so much and taught/inspired so many people. His amazing technical skill, humor, high range, warm sound, warm personality (shall I go on?) consistantly proove Clark to be at the top of the heap even now! His sound came out of Roy Eldridge and Charlie Shavers, and he picked up the innovations of Dizzy Gillespie and incorporated them into his style, which also sometimes echos the choked notes of Rex Stewart.



Terry's brothers Charles and Virgil were amateur musicians who played drums, and tuba and ukelelie, respectively. His cousins were musicians as well-- Lesa Terry was violinist with Uptown String Quartet; Zela Terry was a cellist with the Nice Symphony.



Clark played the "G" bugle in the Tom Powell Drum and Bugle Corps in 1935; then studied valve-trombone. In high school he played on riverboats in St. Louis, then with the navy band at Great Lakes Naval Station from `42--5. After his discharge he played briefly with Lionel Hampton in 1945; Geoff Hudson in St. Louis `45--6; Charlie Barnet in California `46; Eddie Vinson, Charlie Ventura, G. Hudson `47; Count Basie orchestra `48--9; Basie small group `50--1.



He came to prominence with Duke Ellington `51--9. played with Quincy Jones `59; on staff at NBC in NYC `60--72, also much freelance studio work. As a popular member of the Tonight Show orchestra, Terry became known for his mumbling style of scat singing. After toured Japan with J.J. Johnson `64, he had a hit recording "Mumbles," recorded with the Oscar Peterson Trio.



He toured Europe with Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald `6 Co-led qintet with Bob Brookmeyer `6os, then led own combo and Big Bad Band in clubs, concerts, fests from `72; Also appeared as soloist for George Wein, Norman Granz at festivals.



Played mainly flugelhorn from early `70s. Very active as clinician and teacher from `7os. In the `8os Terry continued to work as a studio musician and toured with own group and Oscar Peterson's.



In the `90s led own groups, including The Spacemen, and was featured with Lionel Hampton's Golden Men of Jazz. In `95 his direction of annual summer big band camps in Iowa and Oklahoma evolved into his own music school at Teikyo Westmar University in Le Mars, Iowa.



Though he has been through some health problems, Clark continues to perform and educate wherever he goes, spreading his love for the music to whomever he meets.

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