• It's About Time (2009)

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Drummer, Terry Clarke was born on August 20, 1944 in Vancouver, British Columbia. His natural rhythmic aptitude was obvious from an early age, and at the age of twelve, he began studying formally with the noted drum teacher and author Jim Blackley who was to remain a primary and ongoing figure in Terry's development as a musician. In 1965, Terry moved to San Francisco to work with John Handy III. He performed with him for the next two and a half years, during which time the Grammy nominated recording, Live at Monterey Jazz Fest (Columbia, 1966) was made. Following the John Handy experience, Terry began building his reputation for versatility by joining the world-famous pop vocal group, The Fifth Dimension. At the time, they were at the height of their popularity, and Terry traveled and performed extensively with them throughout the U.S.A., Canada and Europe. Terry left The Fifth Dimension in 1970, and re-located to Toronto. For the next fifteen years he played an abundance of jazz in all styles, as well as being in demand in Toronto's considerable studio scene. Countless television shows, jingles and recording dates were Terry's mainstay, as well as touring Japan and Europe with noted jazz guitarist, Jim Hall and piano great, Oscar Peterson. Terry Clarke is well-known as a founding member of the world acclaimed big-band, Rob McConnell's Boss Brass. For twenty-five years he recorded and toured with the band, helping to define it's remarkable sound. In 1985, Terry made a bold move to New York to pursue an exclusively jazz career. During his stint there, he worked with The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, The Joe Roccisano Jazz Orchestra, Jim Hall, Jay Leonhart, Helen Merrill, Marvin Stamm, Bob Mintzer, and Mark Murphy (among others). Terry Clarke has recorded well over 300 albums with various jazz artists including Jim Hall, Oscar Peterson, Rob McConnell, The Singers Unlimited, Frank Rossolino, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Lew Tabackin, Freddie Hubbard, Jay McShann, Buddy Tate, Emily Remler, John Handy III, Ed Bickert, Helen Merrill and Roger Kellaway. Terry is a familiar face at jazz festivals in Europe, Canada, Japan and the U.S. After fifteen years of living and working in New York City, he re-located to Toronto with his wife Lesley, and their two young sons, Kristopher and Kyle. In October of 1999, Terry re-united with Rob McConnell to help form the Rob McConnell Tentet, an exciting newly formatted group comprised mainly of charter Boss Brass members, and fueled by the brilliant writing of Rob McConnell. This new group has received rave reviews for their "live" performances, as well as a GRAMMY nomination and a JUNO award for their self-titled debut CD on the Justin Time label. As a jazz educator, Terry Clarke is currently an adjunct professor at The University of Toronto, and In January of 2002, he was honored as "Drummer of the Year" at the first annual Canadian National Jazz Awards. Terry Clarke has also been recently named as a Member of the prestigious Order of Canada.

Terry Clarke's first release under his own name comes after more than 40 years and 300 albums as an in-demand A-list drummer. The live recording captures the Canadian's bustling pulse and loose-limbed cymbals inspiring saxophonists Joe Lovano and Greg Osby on a packed-with-detail set of standards and originals. The solos are free-flowing and trenchant and the group interplay unfurling and dynamic. Jim Hall adds subtle shades and melodic precision on guitar, his unaccompanied introduction to "All the Things You Are" one of many highlights.
Mike Hobart, The Financial Times

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Jazz Drummer Terry Clarke nominated for Canadian JUNO Award

The committee for the JUNO Awards in Toronto, Canada, announced today that drummer Terry Clarke's album "It's About Time" (Blue Music Group, 2009) has been nominated for a JUNO Award as the Traditional Jazz Album Of The Year. The album features saxophonists Full Story

It's About Time for Drummer Terry Clarke

Canadian drummer Terry Clarke's publicist LMC Media has sprung rhapsodizing words about the veteran drummer's long history as a sideman musician. The gleaming phrases do include quite a bit of substance, however. But how does a popular sideman convert himself to a strong leader? On Full Story

Terry Clarke signs to Blue Music Group

Grammy nominated and Juno Award winning drummer Terry Clarke signed to Blue Music Group for his release It's About Time featuring Joe Lovano, Jim Hall, Greg Osby, Phil Dwyer and Don Thompson.

Terry Clarke was born on August 20, 1944 in Vancouver, British Columbia. His natural... Full Story