Each month Peter Batten recommends a recording that jazz fans may wish to add to their personal library.

Clark Terry with Horace Parlan and Red Mitchell

Out of Nowhere

    This is a rare item from my vinyl collection. It was recorded in 1978 at Jacques Loussier’s famous studio at Miraval in Provence. I must apologise, because it is really a trumpet player’s selection.

    I discovered Clark Terry in 1963. At the time I was playing trumpet in a semi-pro mainstream/modern sextet in Hertfordshire. Despite some excellent advice from the late Ian Carr, I was struggling to establish a consistent solo style. Clark gave me some answers – and an enormous technical challenge!

    For any trumpet player who would like to learn something from Clark – this is the session. He gets strong support from Horace Parlan [remember he was Charles Mingus’ choice for the great Ah Um album] and they both benefit from the beautiful bass line – and solos – of Red Mitchell. Clark plays both trumpet and flugel horn, as you would expect. This is probably some of the best flugel  work he ever recorded. Listen to his relaxed lyrical outing on “The Days of Wine and Roses”. I thoroughly enjoy “What Will I Tell My Heart”, where the trio combine for some restrained but emotional expression.

[In 1998 the session, with some extra tracks, was reissued on Challenge CD CHR 70050]