Feature

Kickin' Back With Clark Terry

By George Pettigrew

Clark “Mumbles” Terry, as he's known around the world, is the most gifted, spirited, young artist you'll ever see at eighty eight years young. Still traveling the world working over fifty concerts and festivals annually, this “semi-retired” National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master (1991) trumpeter is a living legend. His endless stream of entertaining tales and jokes (not all G rated) attest to his ever keen mind along with an internal database of countless musical scores that spans more than sixty professional years of non-stop performing with the greatest names in the world of jazz.

Clark has written over 200 compositions, has seventeen honorary doctoral degrees at last count, a Grammy, two Grammy certificates, three Grammy nominations, toured the Middle East and Africa as a Jazz Ambassador for the U.S. State Department, was knighted in Germany, and is a recipient of the French Order of Arts and Letters, inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame, and has a life-sized wax statue in the St. Louis Black World History Museum. He also authored several books and is the foremost musical practitioner of circular breathing performing anywhere today. Clark was the first African American staff musician in the history of television, performing regularly on NBC's Tonight Show for ten years.

Anyone that knows Clark Terry is most likely familiar with his extensive resume so let's part for a bit to get to know more about the world treasure with two short stories “Papa” Clark told me. First, Clark (Uncle John as his family in St. Louis calls him) was born December 14, 1920 on Chouteau Avenue in St. Louis on the south side not far from the Mississippi River. He was completely ordinary as a kid except he ran his neighbors crazy when he was first introduced to music by his brother-in-law who was a local musician. Clark stayed with his sister and brother-in-law for a while and would go with him to rehearsals and performances on occasion. When he did, the trumpet player in the band would carry candy in his jacket pocket that was offered to Clark to watch his instrument when he took a break.

Clark's attraction to music and the trumpet grew out of this profitable association with the side gig watching the horn on breaks and his listening to them play. The attraction grew into desire that led Clark to make his first “horn” out of rubber hose and a “lead mouthpiece”. Not being able to afford a real horn Clark blew his homemade version so much he “inspired” his neighbors to put their change together and get him his first trumpet. “It was a beautiful thing the way they came together”, Clark said of his neighbors' efforts, all unbeknownst to him at the time.

At Vashon High in St. Louis Clark was better known as an athlete and a boxer. He said “I gave up boxing when I found I couldn't get hit in the mouth and play the horn.” So goes the accidental start of human invention.

This leads to the second of many tales “Papa Clark” has shared with me on the road, back stage, and at home in New Jersey and Arkansas. Aside from his nickname “Mumbles”, derived from his famous act created in the 1960's where he scats in a conversational way telling an intelligible story without using one intelligible word, Clark is best known for his ability to use circular breathing.

Clark first experienced circular breathing when he attended a circus where a performer played a clarinet holding a single note without interruption. Clark put it this way, “that cat blew that one note while taking the clarinet apart and putting it away one piece at a time.” This impressed him and he soon put his calculating mind to work figuring out how to do the same thing. The results of this effort are now recognized world wide and it led to his book Clark Terry's System of Circular Breathing for Woodwind and Brass Instruments .

Clark Terry has led a charmed life performing with all the giants of jazz and in venues that have taken him around the world many times over. At eighty eight his tones are as youthful and full as ever though he may take a little longer getting situated on stage to blow your mind. He is one of the last truly great jazz performers from back in the day still performing and every chance you get to see him is an experience not to miss.

For that reason you don't want to miss the events on May 4, 2008 at Unity Temple on the Plaza. This is when the Kansas City Youth Jazz (KCYJ) organization under the direction of Founder/Musical Director, Leon Brady, will host a complete afternoon and evening of jazz and education.

Terry will join the KCYJ students to perform in the KCYJ Annual Spring Concert beginning at 3:00 pm at the Unity, followed by a panel discussion along with Mr. Terry, Leon Brady and Bobby Watson. The afternoon events are free to metro-wide music students. For tickets call 913-428-2241.

The evening concert begins at 7:00 pm. The special evening concert features Terry and many very talented Kansas City musicians. For tickets to the 7:00 pm concert call the Central Ticket Office at 816 235-6222.

A limited number of Patron's Packages are available at $175.00 per person and include dinner at Plaza III, concert tickets and a special reception with the musicians. To reserve Patron's tickets call 913 428-2241.

All proceeds benefit the mission of Kansas City Youth Jazz – to develop and maintain a multicultural music education program that perpetuates and promotes our jazz heritage.

The honorary Co-Chairs are Kansas City native and performer Marilyn Maye and Judge Jon R. Gray, Retired, a former music student of Leon Brady. Also appearing on the main stage for the evening affair is Bobby Watson, Angela Hagenbach, and the McFadden Brothers along with the musical mastery of Mr. Brady and Clarence Smith, Greg Richter, Ron Stinson, Jason Goudeau, Jill Atherton, and Adam Kabak.

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