Clark Terry's Big B-A-D Band – Live! At Buddy's Place (Vanguard, 1976)

Clark Terry (tr, flgn); Dale Carley (tr); Greg Bobulinski (tr); Paul Cohen (tr); Richard Williams (tr); Eddie Bert (tb); Jimmy Wilkins (tb); Sonny Costanzo (tb); Jack Jeffers (tb, tu); Charles Davis (reeds); Chris Woods (reeds); Dr. Ronnie Oldrich (reeds); Ernie Wilkins (reeds, arr); Frank Wess (reeds); Ronnie Mathews (p); Victor Sproles (b); Ed Soph (d)

Recorded in 1976

Clark Terry is one of my favorite musicians, and practically ALL of his recordings have something to recommend them.  I went round and round trying to figure out which one to choose for this survey.

At the end of the day, I choose this big band recording.  From top to bottom, I think it's his most satisfying recording from the decade. (Or at least one of them.) 

This ensemble was called the Big B-A-D Band for a reason.  Check out the line-up of musicians.  Frank Wess.  Chris Woods.  Ernie Wilkins.  Charles Davis.  Richard Williams.  Ronnie Mathews.  Victor Sproles.  And CT, of course.  

This recording captures them in full flight.

More Clark Terry

A few more of the many enjoyable albums that Terry led (or co-led) during the 1970s:

- Clark Terry and His Jolly Giants (Vanguard, 1975)
- Clark Terry's Big-B-A-D-Band Live at the Wichita Jazz Festival 1974 (Vanguard, 1975)
- Oscar Peterson & Clark Terry (Pablo, 1975)
- Wham: Live at The Jazzhouse (MPS, 1976)
- The Globetrotter (Vanguard, 1977)
- Summit Meeting (Vanguard, 1977); co-led with Elvin Jones, James Moody, a.o.
- Clark After Dark: The Ballad Artistry of Clark Terry (MPS, 1978); with Peter Herbolzheimer's big band
- Intimate Stories (Challenge, rec. 1978, rel. 1998)
- Funk Dumplin's (Matrix, 1979)