Clark Terry With Jeff Lindberg and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra

George Gershwin's Porgy & Bess

A440 Music Group

Clark Terry, trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals; Chicago Jazz Orchestra.

Cark Terry revisits the Gil Evans arrangements of "Porgy and Bess" released in 1958 by Miles Davis. It has been transcribed by Jeff Lindberg and Charles Harrison III. Lindberg is the artistic director and conductor of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra who back Terry throughout with outstanding effect. Terry, who reached the age of 83 during this recording, was an influence on the young Miles Davis; Terry admits, "This recording was hard at times..because the songs are challenging and because Miles already put his stamp on them..I love a challenge, so I wanted to take a crack at it." And he does it beautifully, "Bess, You is My Woman Now" is an expression of love and sensitivity carefully expressed, "Gone" is the only piece that is not Gershwin's, written by Gil Evans, this sharp number is shared by Terry with Art Hoyle on flugelhorn. Terry moves to muted trumpet on "Summertime". He imbues each track with a broad depth of feeling; there is energy, tension, the minor keys allow him to touch nerves, to wallow in the melancholy. A brilliant interpretation backed by a sumptuous and sensitive arrangement. An excellent CD.

by Ferdinand Maylin

New Sounds - February 2005