Clark Terry

Clark Terry's career in jazz spans more than sixty years. He is a world-class trumpeter, flugelhornist, educator, and NEA Jazz Master. He performed for seven U.S. Presidents, and was a Jazz Ambassador for State Department tours in the Middle East and Africa. More than fifty jazz festivals in all seven continents still feature him. He received a Grammy Award, two Grammy certificates, three Grammy nominations, thirteen honorary doctorates, keys to cities, lifetime achievements and halls of fame awards. He was knighted in Germany and is the recipient of the French Order of Arts and Letters. Clark's star on the Walk of Fame, and his Black World History Museum's life-sized wax figure can both be visited in his hometown, St. Louis, Missouri.

Clark composed more than two hundred jazz songs, and his books include Let's Talk Trumpet: From Legit to Jazz, Interpretation of the Jazz Language and Clark Terry's System of Circular Breathing for Woodwind and Brass Instruments.

He recorded with The London Symphony Orchestra, The Dutch Metropole Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra and The Chicago Jazz Orchestra, at least thirty high school and college ensembles, his own duos, trios, quartets, quintets, sextets, octets, and two big bands — Clark Terry's Big Bad Band and Clark Terry's Young Titans of Jazz. His career as both leader and sideman with more than three hundred recordings demonstrates that he is one of the luminaries in jazz.

Clark's discography reads like a "Who's Who In Jazz," with personnel that includes great jazz artists such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Dinah Washington, Ben Webster, Charlie Barnet, Doc Severinsen, Ray Charles, Billy Strayhorn, Dexter Gordon, Thelonious Monk, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Coleman Hawkins, Zoot Sims, Milt Jackson, Bob Brookmeyer, Jon Faddis, and Dianne Reeves.

"Clark Terry," writes Chuck Berg, "is one of contemporary music's great innovators, and justly celebrated for his great technical virtuosity, swinging lyricism, and impeccable good taste. Combining these with the gifts of a great dramatist, Clark is a master storyteller whose spellbinding musical 'tales' leave audiences thrilled and always awaiting more."

In the 1940s, after serving in the Navy, Clark's musical star rose rapidly with successful stints in the bands of George Hudson, Charlie Barnet, Charlie Ventura, Eddie Vinson, and then in 1948 — the great Count Basie. In addition to his outstanding musical contribution to these bands, Mr. Terry exerted a positive influence on musicians such as Miles Davis and Quincy Jones, both of whom credit Clark as a formidable influence during the early stages of their careers. In 1951 Clark was asked to join Maestro Duke Ellington's renowned orchestra where he stayed for eight years as a featured soloist.

Duke Ellington: Copenhagen 1958

Read "Copenhagen 1958" reviewed by Ken Dryden

by Ken Dryden
September 9, 2024

Duke Ellington left a formidable discography at his death at the age of 75 in 1974, and it has expanded greatly with the number of concerts that have been uncovered and issued since then. This CD is drawn from two 1958 concerts at KB Hallen in Copenhagen, though they are not sourced from the original, long lost broadcast tapes, but dubs evidently made by a fan. What makes this a valuable find is that the band is in top form ...

Radio & Podcasts

Brass Players: Clark Terry, Rob Mazurek and More

by Jerome Wilson
November 15, 2023

This vintage episode of The Outer View from November 9, 2021, features all brass players, trumpeters, trombonists, and a tuba player. Musicians heard on the program include Clark Terry, Rob Mazurek, Steve Turre, Sarah Wilson, Bob Stewart, and Terence Blanchard. Playlist Henry Theadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Joe McPhee Po Music “Oleo" from Oleo & A Future Retrospective (Hat Art) ...

Album Review

Thelonious Monk: Brilliant Corners

Read "Brilliant Corners" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci

by Richard J Salvucci
October 19, 2023

Writing about being “lost for words" is not the ideal way of starting a review, but it may be the plain truth. Perhaps Thelonious Monk is an acquired taste. Perhaps not. Whatever the case, this particular release of Brilliant Corners is just that--brilliant.The whole package is superb and really defines Craft Recordings “Small Batch" vinyl series. The technical literature accompanying the recording says “Each edition is cut from its original analog tapes by Bernie Grundman and pressed on ...

Radio & Podcasts

Learning the Art of Jazz, Part 1

by Monk Rowe
December 6, 2022

Inspiration set the path to jazz, the subsequent learning process required mentors, trial and error and “dues paying." Harry Sweets" Edison, Clark Terry, Eddie Locke and John Pizzarelli share their memories. ...

Film Review

Clark Terry: Keep On Keepin' On

by Mark F. Turner
October 14, 2014

Clark Terry Keep On Keepin' On RADiUS-TWC 2014 Produced by Quincy Jones and Paula Dupre' Pesmen with first time filmmaker Al Hicks the multiple award winning documentary Keep On Keepin' On brings an intimate view into the extraordinary friendship between trumpet great Clark Terry and aspiring young pianist Justin Kauflin. The film begins with what seems like a simple teacher/student session. But there's something different about the setting. Terry is almost bedridden, wearing a robe ...

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Book Review

Clark Terry with Gwen Terry: Clark - The Autobiography of Clark Terry

by Florence Wetzel
January 7, 2012

Clark: The Autobiography of Clark TerryClark Terry with Gwen TerryHardcover; 344 pagesISBN: 9780520268463University of California Press2011There are many sad stories in jazz. Cornetist Joe Oliver lost his embouchure and ended up working as a janitor in a pool hall, singer Billie Holiday was arrested on her deathbed, trumpeter Lee Morgan was killed on stage by his enraged common-law wife--and that's just the tip of the iceberg. In contrast ...

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Film Review

Clark Terry Sextet '77: Jazz in Montreux

by Jim Santella
December 15, 2005

Clark Terry Clark Terry Sextet '77 Eagle Eye Media 2005

Produced by Norman Granz on July 14, 1977, this concert performance brought a superb group of all-stars together for a sterling session of straight-ahead fun. Clark Terry's sextet took on a challenging program of standards and interpreted each with the ease of veterans. An equitable ensemble balance was achieved, solos were passed around the stage, and each artist seemed completely at ease. ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Clark Terry

Source: Michael Ricci
December 14, 2022

All About Jazz is celebrating Clark Terry's birthday today!

Recording

Clark Terry: 'Color Changes'

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
August 31, 2022

The revived Candid Records has just reissued another five albums from its archives. Founded in 1960 as a subsidiary of Cadence Records, the label was overseen by jazz author and critic Nat Hentoff, who served as Candid's A&R director. This meant he chose what to record and how to produce the records. The last time I posted about Candid in April, the label had just re-issued Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus (1960), Max Roach's We Insist!: Freedom Now Suite (1960), ...
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Video / DVD

Clark Terry's Big Bad Band, 1979

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
July 18, 2022

Trumpeter and flugelhornist Clark Terry had a long career. His first recording session was as a leader, in 1947, with his Section Eights for V-Discs, a label started during the American Federation of Musicians recording ban of 1942-'44 that allowed music to be recorded for the Army provided the masters were destroyed. Soon V-Discs was provided to the Navy and Marines as well. Clark's last recording date was in 2008, in Florida. Over the course of more than 60 years, ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Clark Terry

Source: Michael Ricci
December 14, 2021

All About Jazz is celebrating Clark Terry's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Clark Terry

Source: Michael Ricci
December 14, 2020

All About Jazz is celebrating Clark Terry's birthday today!

Video / DVD

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Clark Terry plays Duke Ellington

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
March 22, 2020

With live music in St. Louis shut down for at least a couple of months, this weekly feature—which frequently, though not exclusively, previews performances by jazz and creative music artists coming to town—will need a different focus for a while. While yr. humble editor isn't exactly sure right this minute what that will be, it likely will involve showcasing the work of St. Louis' own bands and musicians, with some sort of theme or unifying element to tie each post ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Clark Terry

Source: Michael Ricci
December 14, 2019

All About Jazz is celebrating Clark Terry's birthday today!

Place our ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Clark Terry

Source: Michael Ricci
December 14, 2018

All About Jazz is celebrating Clark Terry's birthday today!

Clark Terry\'s career in jazz spans more than sixty years. He is a world-class trumpeter, flugelhornist, educator, and NEA Jazz Master. He performed for seven U.S. Presidents, and was a Jazz Ambassador for State Department tours in the Middle East and Africa. More than fifty jazz festivals in all seven continents still feature him. He received a Grammy Award, two Grammy certificates, three Grammy nominations... Read more.

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