Clark Terry was a legend and is no more. The American jazz trumpeter died on Saturday at the age of 94. He began his musical career with jazz greats Count Basie and Duke Ellington, who soon recognised his extraordinary talent. He said of the two: "Count Basie was college, but Duke Ellington was graduate school."
[Tweet ""Count Basie was college, but Duke Ellington was graduate school."]Davis, Jones, Gillespie
After his time with those influential jazz pioneers, Terry became the link between a new generation of musicians. Miles Davis, who was taught by Terry, saw in him a great role model. Quincy Jones is another admirer who still praises him as an inspiration. And Dizzy Gillespie called him the best trumpeter he had ever heard. His passion and skill for jazz also produced an unprecedented body of records.
IDFA
What else made Terry so special was his humour and his tireless enthusiasm to pass on knowledge to new generations of musicians. This inspiring side of Terry is beautifully portrayed in the documentary Keep on Keepin' on by Alan Hicks. The film was shown at IDFA in Amsterdam last year, where it won the award for best music documentary.
Beautiful and generous man
Keep On Keepin' On shows the very elderly and sick Terry who still has time for his students despite his deteriorating health. The film also shows the strong bond he builds with a young blind pianist who is his protégége. It is a portrait of a beautiful and generous man who has always wanted to share his love of music. Sadly, Clark Terry has now passed away, but he will live on in the illustrious pantheon of peerless jazz greats.
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