Clark Terry is a trumpet and education legend. I was fortunate enough to get to spend a lot of time with Clark back when I was in college. Every moment spent with him was a lesson on being the best musician and human being that you possibly could be.
Clark was a special human being and his contributions to jazz and the community could never be overstated. The guy lived and breathed beautiful music. He has played with anyone and everyone you could ever imagine and some of his stories would make you roll on the floor laughing or stare wide eyed trying to imagine what it must have been like to interact with some of the people he considered friends and contemporaries.
Most of all, he was like everyone’s grandfather. Whether you just met him or had known him for years, he had a way of making you feel cared for. He was more than generous with his time and knowledge and, if you can believe it, he never charged anyone for a lesson, EVER.
The bad news is, Clark has since moved on to a different place and we miss him dearly. Check out this masterclass to get a glimpse into what Clark was all about and hear some really cool stuff he has to say about music.
There was and will ever be only one Clark Terry. Absorbing some of what made him great is sure to make you better at what you do. I guarantee it.
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