Jazz Articles about Louie Bellson

Duke Ellington's Concert of Sacred Music

by Chuck Lenatti
June 1, 2025

In 1964, Dean D.J. Bartlett and the Reverend John S. Yaryan invited Duke Ellington and his orchestra to present a concert to consecrate the renovated Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill in San Francisco during a year-long festival of Grace. At first, Duke demurred. In his autobiography, Music Is My Mistress (Da Capo, 1976), Ellington explained why he changed his mind: It has been said once that a man who could not play the organ or any ...

Louie Bellson: Tasteful Drummer, Sweeter Guy

by Jack Bowers
April 2, 2009

To say that drummer extraordinaire Louie Bellson, who left us on February 14, 2009 at age eighty-four, had a remarkable career would be to explicitly understate the record. Bellson's success at age 17 in a nationwide contest sponsored by one of his idols, Gene Krupa, and Slingerland Drums set the talented wunderkind on a path that saw him soon reach the pinnacle of his profession and remain there for nearly six decades. Bellson was not simply another timekeeper; he was ...

Louie Bellson/Clark Terry: Louie & Clark Expedition 2

by George Kanzler
November 17, 2008

Drummer Louie Bellson and trumpeter/flugelhornist Clark Terry first worked together in the Duke Ellington Orchestra in the '50s and the Duke or, as Terry always refers to him, “The Maestro," remains central to both players' jazz conception. This is more a Bellson big band project than a true collaboration, as Terry only appears on seven of the thirteen tracks and Bellson composed or co-wrote all thirteen. Carrying on in a decidedly Ellington vein, the first four tracks comprise “The Chicago ...

Louie Bellson - Clark Terry: Louie & Clark Expedition 2

by AAJ Italy Staff
June 25, 2008

Fa piacere ascoltare l’ultimo disco di Clark Terry proprio in questi giorni che lo vedono convalescente per un leggero infarto. Ci auguriamo che la vitalità della sua tromba sia la stessa del suo fisico e gli consenta di restare con noi ancora a lungo. Terry è un classico caso di musicista adorato da colleghi e addetti ai lavori, ma dimenticato da grande pubblico e case discografiche. Eppure si tratta di un artista citato come fonte di ispirazione da Miles Davis ...

Louie Bellson & Clark Terry: Louie & Clark Expedition 2

by Jerry D'Souza
April 26, 2008

Drummer Louie Bellson and trumpeter Clark Terry trump age to front a big band with verve and youthful vitality. Though both are in their eighties, age has not diminished the wonderful ability they have shown through their long and distinguished careers to give jazz a glorious presence.

Bellson and Terry collaborated in 1994 on the big band recording, Live From New York (Telarc), which featured a track called “Louie and Clark Expedition." This, then, becomes another odyssey larger in dimension, ...

Louie Bellson and Clark Terry: Louie & Clark Expedition 2

by Edward Blanco
February 22, 2008

Louie & Clark Expedition 2 marks the historic reunion of legendary drummer Louie Bellson and trumpeter Clark Terry. While the title references the 1803 Lewis & Clark expedition, it's actually a reprisal of the big band effort Live From New York (Telarc, 1994), which featured the composition “Louie & Clark Expedition. Expedition 2 is more than an encore or swan song for the robust 83 year-old Bellson and 87 year-young Terry; it is, indeed, a celebration of life and a ...

John Taylor's Jazz Caricatures: Louie Bellson

by John Taylor
February 17, 2008

Louie Bellson About John Taylor For me, art and music flow into a creative confluence. Encouraged by my family to draw and play the drums at an early age, I continue to find expression in these art forms.Motivation for a career in art and music developed in the 1960's as I observed theme park caricaturists at work and listened to recordings of the inimitable Buddy Rich. Gifted editorial caricaturist, David Levine, ...