AOTW Sept. 5-11: Clark Terry

[paul secor]

Spontooneous has chosen me to pick the AOW for Sept. 5-11. Many thanks.

A little background:

Some people find ways to make things happen as simply as possible. Others tend to follow more difficult paths. I belong to the latter camp.

When I decided I wanted to make a choice, I listed 20+ recordings as possibilities. Then I narrowed that list down to a dozen or so, and the "fun" began.

Should I step out a bit and choose something from the more popular world - Sam Cooke's Night Beat or John Fahey? (OK - Fahey's not exactly pop music.)

A blues record - Jimmy Yancey or The Memphis Jug Band?

Maybe Floyd Tillman or Merle Haggard?

One of my somewhat mainstream jazz favorites - Steve Lacy's Evidence or Wilbur Ware's The Chicago Sound?

Something from the 20's or 30's - Jabbo Smith or Teddy Grace?

A somewhat obscure personal favorite - Buell Neidlinger's Blue Chopsticks or a Boulou & Elios Ferre Steeplechase?

You get the idea.

I knew that some of these might not receive many responses, but I figured that would be all right. It's happened before on this thread, and as long as there have been at least a couple good responses, it's worked out OK.

In the end, I went with the choice I made before I started thinking about it: Clark Terry's Duke with a Difference.

This was one of the first jazz albums I ever bought. I had just developed an interest in the music, and a local record store was going out of business. As I remember, I got it, along with two other LPs, for $5. Right now, I'm on my third copy. I pretty much wore my original out in college, playing it on a cheap record player. Later, I bought an OJC LP. Then, a couple of years ago, I bought a clean copy of the original Riverside stereo issue from a friend who sells used records. He specializes in country music, but occasionally he has some jazz records, and, luckily for me, this was one of them. My copy doesn't contain Marian Bruce's vocal on "In a Sentimental Mood", but I don't miss it, as I never enjoyed that cut anyway. I questioned why this was left off on the BN Board, and Chuck Nessa provided the information that in the early days of stereo recordings, engineers occasionally left a cut off a stereo LP because they didn't have the knowhow to fit it all on. (That's a simplification - my apologies to Chuck if that's not what he said and meant.)

Anyway, Duke with a Difference is a long time favorite of mine, and I still enjoy listening to it as much as I did the first time I listened.

It was my introduction, not only to Clark Terry, but to Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, and everyone else who plays on it.

I've gone on all too long already, so I'll only offer a few favorite moments:

Johnny Hodges' solos on "Mood Indigo" and "Just Squeeze Me"; Paul Gonalves' "Cottontail" solo (I used to lift up the tone arm and play this again and again); Clark Terry's soloing throughout; Sam Woodyard's playing on "Just Squeeze Me" - hearing him on that tune makes me want to dance, and I can't dance a lick; Finally, Tyree Glenn's vibes playing - it creates a different sound and a nice change from the usual piano backing on most recordings.

I hope that some others enjoy this record as much as I obviously do, and that someone who isn't familiar with it will pick it up and give it a listen.

Edited August 29, 2004 by paul secor

[Peter F]

Paul,

I agree that Clark Terry's "Duke With A Difference" is a fine recording. That CD recorded July 29 and September 6, 1957 is on my shelf right next to a Clark Terry recording I like even more. I am referring to "Serenade To A Bus Seat" that has Clark joined by Johnny Griffin, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones. This session was recorded earlier that same year in April 1957.

Both Terry recordings are well worth getting.

Peter F

[mikeweil]

Paul, I couldn't agree more - great choice. Do not have it with me but sure will give it a listen upon my return.

Terry's Riversides are underestimated, I think - they include some of the more unusual items in his vast discography, icluding Monk's only sideman date for the label.

This one swings nicely, has all players in fine form and breaks the rule of using a piano to catch the Ellington spirit - the vibes are very nice here.

Edited September 3, 2004 by mikeweil

[wolff]

What a great into to jazz. A Hodges LP may have been mine.

Just got this LP a few weeks ago(Thanks Dmitry). It's a keeper and holds it's own with the other Ellingtonia titles I have. Gonsalves sure was an interesting player.

Edited September 4, 2004 by wolff

[Big Al]

I would've liked a Fahey record, myself.

[paul secor]

I would've liked a Fahey record, myself.  

Maybe I should have chosen Albums of the Week and made it a multiple choice discussion.

Edited September 4, 2004 by paul secor

[danasgoodstuff]

I like this one too, I have (part of?) it on a 2fer with the abovementioned sessions with Monk & Griffin (both v. nice too). Somehow it didn't inspire me to go out and buy more Clark Terry though...

[Big Al]

I would've liked a Fahey record, myself.  

Maybe I should have chosen Albums of the Week and made it a multiple choice discussion.

B-)