Clark Terry -- C.T. MEETS MONK (In Orbit)

Sleeve notes by Ralph J Gleason.

Globetrotter (4'37); One Foot In The Gutter (7'14); Trust In Me (4'30); Let's Cool One (5'43); Zip Co-Ed (4'25); Argentia (6'08); Moonlight Fiesta (2'33); Buck's Business (3'20); Very Near Blue (3'03); (May 1958 - N.Y.)

Clark Terry - fluegelhorn. Thelonious Monk - piano. Sam Jones - bass. Philly Joe Jones - drums.

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During those long years when trumpeter Clark Terry was buried, first in the brass section of the Count Basie band and then in the brass section of the Duke Ellington band, the jazz critics and the jazz musicians used to continually refer to him as one of the most underrated jazz musicians of the time.

What impressed everyone then - and still does, for that matter - was the pure musicianship of Clark Terry - a delight to observe. Very few players in jazz' history have had his versatility; a versatility that maintains such a high standard wherever he appears and in whatever role.

Since his stints with Basie (there was a period, too, with the Basie Sextet, which was much more a showcase for Clark Terry's talents than was the big band) and with Ellington, Terry has spent his time in the recording and TV studios, with occasional excursions into jazz clubs, jazz concert tours and jazz festivals.

This album is a tribute to Clark Terry's stature, in that it is a very rare example of Thelonious Monk serving as a sideman! Monk, as all other jazzmen, honored Clark Terry for his tremendous ability as a jazz musician. Orrin Keepnews, who recorded the date, recalls that he never saw Monk more cooperative or happier on a recording date.

The admiration was mutual, of course; Terry once paid high tribute to Monk's pattern of taking chances when he played, likening him to an adventuresome fighter. And this was a venturesome album, with both Monk and Terry refusing to play it safe.

Clark Terry also was one of the first players to realize the potential of the flugelhorn in jazz. "I found it to have a more intimate feeling and sound," he told Dan Morgenstern once. "You don't have to use the same vicious attack as on the turmpet...it's really an extension of one's own expression."

No jazz musician is any busier than Terry is today, simply because all jazz musicians share a common problem; there are only 24 hours in anybody's day. He has been featured on numerous TV shows, especially on the late show from New York and has even flown to Europe to play with Jazz at the Philarmonic and to Monterey to play on the Jazz Festival, in between TV programs.

A composer of the kind of neat jazz tunes musicians like to play, Terry also included (aside from his own numbrs - there are five of them) one by Monk and one by an old friend from the Duke Ellington band, Juan Tizol, on this date.

One of the most interesting things about Clark Terry as a soloist is the consistent ability to create diverse moods which he displays in his playing. He can be reflective, sad and deeply blue and he can be joyous, happy and almost comic in his leaps and stunts and bright sound.

For a number of years he played on a very great many of the studio band dates which accompanied Dinah Washington, that great, great singer, and he consistently showed a remarkable ability to fit his music into the mood of her vocal. He's done the same with many other performers and it is, of course, one of the reasons he was so long with Basie and Ellington. Clark regard it as attending the "university of Ellingtonia" but it was obvious that the band and Duke regarded him as a musician of exceptional talent.

"Jazz goes through a lot of phases," Terry said to Dan Morgenstern. "But it always comes back to foot-patting music. I like to hear some of the new things...I don't mind a cat going way out, as long as he comes back. You shouldn't close your mind and ears to everything that's going on...you should at least hear it out."

As is obvious in this album, Clark Terry has big ears and busy ears. he's been listening a long time and he's been making music for others to listen to in turn. With Monk and Philly Joe Jones and Sam Jones, the music on this album gives us something to listen to, as well.