Clark Terry Research Paper

If one was to go out into the street, walked up to a random stranger and asked them if they knew who Louis Armstrong was, chances are that they would be able to answer you correctly. Louis Armstrong (Aug 4th, 1901 - Jul 6th, 1971) was an American trumpeter, composer, singer and occasional actor who became one of the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned many decades, from the 1920s to his death in 1971, and many different eras in jazz. He first came to prominence in the 1920s as a trumpeter and cornet player with no technique as well as being very skilled in scat singing, Armstrong was a foundational influence in jazz, influencing many later jazz artists as well as shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance.With his very well-known and recognizable gravelly voice, a technique that was later named “crooning”, Armstrong was an incredibly influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser by bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes on demand. Renowned for his charming and incredibly charismatic stage presence and voice almost as much as for his trumpet and/or cornet playing, Armstrong 's influence extends far beyond jazz music, and by the end of his career in the early 1970s at his death, he was widely regarded as a deep and profound influence on popular music in general. Armstrong was one of the first very popular

When it comes to music, Miles Davis is one of the finest in the business. He was one of the most talented African American trumpet players from a small town in St. Louis. Davis changed the face of Jazz music between the 1950s and 1990s; he was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Miles was the first jazz musician to influence many listeners in his jazz and rock rhythms. Not only was Davis a musician he was a composer, a producer and a bandleader. Miles Davis was an efficacious Jazz Musician who received tons of awards with his extreme talent and all the music he had created. Davis’ career has come to an end but his music and style is still remembered till this very day.

contributed to jazz music in a few different ways. He was considered by many to be one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre. Over the course of his life he made some of the most memorable music that are still popular today as when they were first recorded. Another contribution that he made to jazz music was his hit song, “Mister Magic”. This song is noted as being influential on Go-go music starting in the mid-1970s and the album that this song goes along with it topped both the soul and jazz albums chart and peaked at number ten on the pop chart.

Everyone grows up in a different type of environment. Jazz artists all end up with the same environment playing jazz as they grow older. But how did these jazz artists start out? Artists like Jelly Roll Morton, Joe King Oliver, Sidney Bichet, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. All them careers ended up successful and they became some of the most well known Jazz artists.

When I think of music in the late 1940’s to 1960’s the talented jazz performer, and pop artist that comes to my mind is Nat “King” Cole.

Charles Mingus is one of the most original and influential jazz composers of the twentieth century. He created the second-largest volume of jazz work after Duke Ellington (McDonough 20), and is the first African-American composer to have his work acquired by the Library of Congress (Harrington B1). Mingus is known for his unusual style of composing and playing, which attempted to reconcile jazz improvisation with orchestration, in order for the final composition to conform most closely to his vision. Also, Mingus liberated the bass from its mundane role of keeping time, turning it into a fully versatile instrument as capable of stating the theme as the horns. While forging a new role for his instrument, he

Miles Dewey Davis III was a phenomenal jazz trumpeter from the late 1940’s who composed several timeless jazz classics and would soon become immortalized within the genre. While attending the Institute of Musical Art, Davis skipped several classes only to participate in jam sessions with his mates, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, who too will become popular musicians. Davis and Parker often collaborated during the late 1940s, exploring with the capabilities of what one can improvise with harmonies and rhythms. Alongside musical innovation, Miles formed unique jazz groups which had included instruments that typically aren’t present within the genre, like the tuba and the french horn. Miles had become a heroin addict within the 1950s, and

Charles Arthur Burnett was born June 10, 1910 to an unhappy family in West Point, Mississippi.  Charles’ parents divorced when he was young and he lived with his mom for a few years of his life until she pushed him out of the house for refusing to work in the cotton fields.  He then went to live with his uncle who didn’t love him or take care of him so Charles ran away to his father’s house, to live with someone who actually cared.  His father had a large, happy family that Charles liked so he stayed there.  On Charles’ 18th birthday his dad gave him a guitar, which he instantly fell in love with and began to play.  He got his inspiration from Charlie Patton, the most popular blues singer in the Mississippi Delta.  According to Memphis Music

Edward Kennedy Ellington (known as “Duke Ellington”) was a famous American pianist and bandleader of an jazz orchestra. He was a major figure in the Jazz industry which he composed an array of songs for both onstage, screen, and song albums for more than half a century.

Scott traveled America performing his songs for people who have never heard Ragtime. He traveled through western and eastern America and played at many saloons throughout Texas ("Kids Music Corner RSS"). Scott also wrote the first Ragtime

was more involved with his making of a big jazz band with became popular during the

The development of jazz was due to the contributions of many significant musicians that viewed music differently. Jazz became a popular genre and thus evolved into big band jazz. Duke Ellington’s Orchestra is an example of a big band that depicted the art form of jazz and with the help of Billy Strayhorn it gained popularity, as well as jazz. Billy Strayhorn’s impact on the development of jazz was through his impact on the Duke Ellington Orchestra, compositions and arrangements of jazz songs, and influence on other musicians.

Terry Pollard began her music career by working with other Detroit musicians. She was later discovered by Terry Gibbs and was able to tour with him in the early 1950s, playing the piano and the vibraphone. Pollard’s collaborations with Gibbs marked the height of her career. She also performed with John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, Dinah Washington, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald. Pollard recorded her solo album and won the Down Beat Magazine New Artist award in 1956.

Gerry Mulligan (1927-1996) was a preeminent figure in “cool jazz” and had a long and illustrious career in jazz. He was a baritone saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger and composer. He began arranging music in his teen years. At 19, he moved to New York (1946) and was hired as an arranger for Gene Krupa’s band. Mulligan ended up living with Gil Evans at the location where musicians would hang out and work on music. He met Miles Davis through this venue.

John Terry has also been in the news lately for remarks made towards ex- Blackburn player Robbie Savage. Chelsea captain John Terry has been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism for his performances this term. With Chelsea down in 15th place in the Premier League after 11 matches, it appears that their title defence is already over, while Terry himself has been dropped and openly blamed for poor performances. But talking before a vital Champions League match with Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday night, Terry hit back - stating that he would take criticism from those had been as good as him in his career, but not from others.