In Memoriam: Clark Terry (1920-2015)

"The only way I knew how to keep going was to keep going", said Clark Terry (aka Mr. CT) about his career, one of the most illustrious ones in history of jazz and also one of the most inspiring ones which outlived major changes and trends in this music, in spite of numerous health issues. Since the 1940s, nothing but death itself could stop Terry from creating one of the most distinctive trumpet (and later flugelhorn) sounds in jazz, composing, and teaching.

Clark Terry died yesterday, February 21. He was 95. Anyone who has seen the emotional, beautifully narrated documentary Keep on Keepin' on about Clark's last years and his friendship with a young, emerging pianist, will confirm that he kept keepin' on until the very end, even after losing his eyesight and the amputation of both legs due to diabetes.

Throughout the short life of this blog (at least comparing to nearly eight decades in Clark Terry's career), I have published notes, information and music about and from this wonderful musician.

Today, as a tribute to Clark Terry, I put together a list of these various posts, which can make a day of CT's music, videos and interviews for anyone interested in pure, straight ahead jazz played by a witty genius.

I can't stop imagining that the death has had a difficult time understanding Mr. CT's mumbles. Probably that's why, in spite of grave illness, it took him so long to give up. He jived the death out.

MUSIC

• Clark Terry: The Ellington Years And Beyond (1952-60) 
• Clark Terry: Further Years at the University of Ellingtonia (1955-56)

VIDEOS

• Clark Terry, backstage in Switzerland, 1969.
• Interview, 1997. 
• Trumpet Masters' session in Switzerland, 1997 [complete concert with Harry Sweets Edison, Snooky Young, Joe Wilder, and Hank Jones.]
• The Illinois Jacquet Big Band feat. Clark Terry, 1998.