One of the few living legends of jazz, Clark Terry (born in Saint Louis in 1920) was the star trumpeter for the orchestras of such illustrious figures as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Quincy Jones and Charlie Barnet. While highly regarded as a swing musician, he was also respected by modern jazz musicians like Thelonious Monk, who included him in his celebrated octet. Terry also recorded several albums as a leader, many fronting his own "Big Bad Band" and others with a splendid quintet co-led by trombonist Bob Brookmeyer (he can be seen and heard in both of these settings on another Impro-Jazz DVD, IJ524). This DVD showcases him in a quartet format, playing in Copenhagen with the excellent bebop pianist Duke Jordan, who gained fame as the composer of the standard "Jordu" and as the pianist of some of the best Charlie Parker recordings of the late forties. Terry alternates between trumpet and flugelhorn on this 1985 concert. Shorty Rogers (1924-1994) also alternates between these instruments on the two TV shows presented on the second half of this DVD. Although the group is invariably called "Shorty Rogers and his Giants" on both sets and the two programs were taped during the same year, the personnel is completely different. The first one features Rogers in the company of Gary LeFebvre, Lou Levy, a 27-year-old Gary Peacock and Larry Bunker (shortly before the drummer began his long association with Bill Evans). Although the image quality is less than perfect, the second show is valuable in that it offers a rare chance to watch the outstanding alto saxophonist Joe Maini (1930-1964). A friend and disciple of Charlie Parker, Maini died tragically at the age of 34, while apparently playing Russian roulette. (His family claims that it was an accident and that he was unaware the gun was loaded.) This show appears here on DVD for the first time ever.
Track 1-6: Clark Terry (tp, flugelhorn), Duke Jordan (p), Jimmy Woode (b), Svend E. Norregaard (d). Live at Club Montmartre, Copenhagen, April 7, 1985.
7-14: SHORTY ROGERS AND HIS GIANTS:
7-10: Shorty Rogers (tp, flugelhorn), Gary LeFebvre (ts, fl), Lou Levy (p), Gary Peacock (b), Larry Bunker (d). TV Show, Los Angeles, June 1962.
11-13: Shorty Rogers (tp, flugelhorn), Joe Maini (as, ts), Pete Jolly (p), Max Bennett (b), Mel Lewis (d). TV Broadcast, Los Angeles, October 1962.
TOTAL TIME: 1h 28 min. approx. COLOR/STEREO (1-6) & B&W/MONO (7-13)
Tracklisting:
1. In a Mellow Tone 8:57 (Duke Ellington)
2. Mood Indigo 6:58 (Duke Elllington-Irving Mills-Barney Bigard)
3. Just Squeeze Me 9:18 (Duke Ellington-Lee Gaines)
4. God Bless the Child 7:02 (Billie Holiday-Arthur Herzog)
5. Satin Doll 9:27 (Duke Ellington-Billy Strayhorn-Johnny Mercer)
6. Lady Be Good 3:54 (George & Ira Gershwin)
7. Introduction/Greensleeves 9:27 (traditional)
8. Time Was 6:22 (Miguel Prado-Gabriel Luna-Bob Russell)
9. Martians Go Home 4:56 (Shorty Rogers)
10. The Outsider 4:13 (Gary LeFebvre)
11. Martian Bossa Nova 6:52 (Shorty Rogers)
12. I'm Gonna Go Fishin' 4:58 (Shorty Rogers)
13. Time Was 5:34 (Miguel Prado-Gabriel Luna-Bob Russell)
Released 2008.