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Clark Terry: Intimate Stories

By Jim Santella
December 1, 1998
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Clark Terry – Intimate Stories – (Challenge Records) [CHR 70050] Challenge Records, P.O. Box 540, 6800 AM Arnheim, The Netherlands Recorded July 20, 1978 (58:44) 1998 release Fun-loving trumpeter and singer Clark Terry was recorded in a Paris studio July 20, 1978 as part of a drummerless trio. The material reissued recently by Challenge Records comes through "loud and clear," with the rhythm section swinging behind Terry’s expressive trumpet. Pianist Horace Parlan and bassist Red Mitchell carry lyrical solo duties as well as metrical support. Terry, who turns 78 this month, continues to carry his sweet trumpet sounds to audiences around the world in live performance. The influential trumpeter is described at several places along the internet; one of the better sources is http://sunsite.unc.edu/jazzfest/cterry.html.

The familiar "Brahms’ Lullaby" wears a swingin’ blues nightgown, the schoolyard "Whiffin’ Poof Song" bops happily down the lane, "Simple Waltz" spins ‘round and ‘round as a Clark Terry trademark, and "The Days of Wine and Roses" stretches out lazily in ballad flugelhorn fashion. Each of the trio members expresses similar thoughts in turn. As a whole, they support each other with a recurring theme of intimacy shaded by the blues. "Blue Moon" finds Parlan stepping away from the others for a brief moment of keyboard wizardry.

Relating "The Perils of Pauline" as a sprawling 12-bar blues with a down-to-earth message, the trio "sings" through their respective instruments, as bass follows piano in the spotlight, Terry provides a conversation between flugelhorn and trumpet (one in each hand) and ends it with a chorus of the mumbles. Highly Recommended.

Personnel

Clark Terry

trumpet

Album information

Title: Intimate Stories | Year Released: 1998 | Record Label: Chesky Records

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