Clark Terry Trumpet, Flugelhorn December 14, 1920 --

Clark Terry

"Clark has a very special talent. He can fit into any situation, play an original solo that's exactly what's called for in the piece, and end up in just the right place, so that it all fits in. That's why he's always in such demand."

--Bill Crow

Born in St. Louis, Clark Terry performed with Charlie Barnet (1947) and in Count Basie's big band and small groups (1948-51) before beginning an important affiliation with Duke Ellington, which lasted from 1951 to 1959. During this period Terry took part in many of Ellington's suites and acquired a lasting reputation for his wide range of styles (from swing to hard bop), technical proficiency, and infectious good humor.

After leaving Ellington he became a frequent performer in New York studios and a staff member of NBC; he appeared regularly on the Tonight Show, where his unique "mumbling" scat singing became famous. He also continued to play jazz with musicians such as J.J. Johnson and Oscar Peterson, and led a group with Bob Brookmeyer which achieved some popularity in the early 1960s.

In the 1970s Terry began to concentrate increasingly on the flugelhorn from which he obtains a remarkably full, ringing tone. In addition to his studio work and teaching at jazz workshops, Terry toured regularly in the 1980s with small groups (including Peterson's) and as the leader of his Big B-A-D Band (formed 1970).

His humor and command of jazz trumpet styles are nowhere more apparent than in his "dialogues" with himself, either on different instruments or on the same instument, muted and unmuted.

--J. BRADFORD ROBINSON, The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz

A selected discography of Clark Terry albums.

• Clark Terry, 1955, EmArcy.
• Serenade To A Bus Seat, 1957, Riverside.
• Duke With A Difference, 1957, Riverside.
• In Orbit, 1958, Riverside.
• Color Changes, 1960, Candid.
• The Oscar Peterson Trio with Clark Terry, 1964, Mercury.
• The Clark Terry Spacemen, 1989, Chiaroscuro.

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