Terry Gibbs and Marshall Allen have to be the two oldest jazz musicians ever. In his autobiography Terry says he told his band he would not tolerate drinking off the bandstand, only on. If you listen to “Flying Home” at loud enough volume, you can hear altoist Joe Maini shouting very colorful encouragement during Terry’s solo. Terry also describes how he worked with sound engineer, Wally Heider, to make it possible to hear every instrument clearly, not just the lead players and soloists. I think that’s why these recordings are so vital even today. Of course, every musician in that band was there because they wanted to be. They only made $20 a night, and Terry only took $25 for himself. It was the original “kicks” band, but what a band! By the time Downbeat awarded Terry the award for best big band in 1962, it was already disbanded. I for one am grateful it was so well documented during its brief life.
If you want to see Terry Gibbs declared an NEA Jazz Master, I urge you to write a letter to the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC. That's how other deserving musicians have achieved that status. Act now!
I had a houseguest over the weekend who was in town to attend a small gathering yesterday to celebrate Terry's 102nd. A few years ago he and I spent an afternoon with Terry, who played videos of some of his performances with the Steve Allen Show, and basically entertained us for a couple of hours. The "Terry Gibbs Experience," as it is known. A remarkable person.
Terry either said this to me or told the story in his book: Buddy Rich was so enamored of the Dream Band's charts, that he seriously considered adding some of those numbers to his own big band book. After a very close listen to some of them, he realized that the drumming of Mel Lewis was so perfect for the band, that he simply could never do better, and the idea was abandoned. Note to Bill Kircher: I wrote the NEA last year and the year before. I'll try again.
Hi Bruce. To your bigger point, which struck me as well, one wonders if Buddy would have created his 1960s band the way he did without first hearing the electrifying energy of Terry’s Dream Bands, especially live.
For a long time I was hoping that Mosaic would reissue the Dream Band live albums at the Summit and that their engineers could do their magic on the sound mix. The trombones are essentially inaudible on the available CDs.
Gibbs having the swing to Ferguson's power is hard to argue with when Mel Lewis is on drums for all four albums. He later kept a different big band swinging at the Vanguard every Monday.
Great post about Terry Gibbs. It’s always wonderful to see people reach such a ripe old age. Hopefully, he can celebrate his birthday in reasonably good health. I own a few Terry Gibbs CDs and I’ll have to check later exactly which "Dream Band" recordings I have. However, I’ve had a favorite Terry Gibbs album for years - one he recorded with Tito Puente for the "Contemporary Records" label back in May 1986. The track "Kick Those Feet," which Terry also composed, never fails to delight me. 🎼🥁🎷
Terry Gibbs and Marshall Allen have to be the two oldest jazz musicians ever. In his autobiography Terry says he told his band he would not tolerate drinking off the bandstand, only on. If you listen to “Flying Home” at loud enough volume, you can hear altoist Joe Maini shouting very colorful encouragement during Terry’s solo. Terry also describes how he worked with sound engineer, Wally Heider, to make it possible to hear every instrument clearly, not just the lead players and soloists. I think that’s why these recordings are so vital even today. Of course, every musician in that band was there because they wanted to be. They only made $20 a night, and Terry only took $25 for himself. It was the original “kicks” band, but what a band! By the time Downbeat awarded Terry the award for best big band in 1962, it was already disbanded. I for one am grateful it was so well documented during its brief life.
If you want to see Terry Gibbs declared an NEA Jazz Master, I urge you to write a letter to the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC. That's how other deserving musicians have achieved that status. Act now!
I had a houseguest over the weekend who was in town to attend a small gathering yesterday to celebrate Terry's 102nd. A few years ago he and I spent an afternoon with Terry, who played videos of some of his performances with the Steve Allen Show, and basically entertained us for a couple of hours. The "Terry Gibbs Experience," as it is known. A remarkable person.
Terry either said this to me or told the story in his book: Buddy Rich was so enamored of the Dream Band's charts, that he seriously considered adding some of those numbers to his own big band book. After a very close listen to some of them, he realized that the drumming of Mel Lewis was so perfect for the band, that he simply could never do better, and the idea was abandoned. Note to Bill Kircher: I wrote the NEA last year and the year before. I'll try again.
Hi Bruce. To your bigger point, which struck me as well, one wonders if Buddy would have created his 1960s band the way he did without first hearing the electrifying energy of Terry’s Dream Bands, especially live.
That's really something to think about, Marc. He HAD to be inspired by what he heard.
For a long time I was hoping that Mosaic would reissue the Dream Band live albums at the Summit and that their engineers could do their magic on the sound mix. The trombones are essentially inaudible on the available CDs.
Hi Daniel. I second your wish. That would be marvelous.
Peas in a pod: Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo and Terry Gibbs. Among my favorites among my souvenirs.
Gibbs having the swing to Ferguson's power is hard to argue with when Mel Lewis is on drums for all four albums. He later kept a different big band swinging at the Vanguard every Monday.
Great post about Terry Gibbs. It’s always wonderful to see people reach such a ripe old age. Hopefully, he can celebrate his birthday in reasonably good health. I own a few Terry Gibbs CDs and I’ll have to check later exactly which "Dream Band" recordings I have. However, I’ve had a favorite Terry Gibbs album for years - one he recorded with Tito Puente for the "Contemporary Records" label back in May 1986. The track "Kick Those Feet," which Terry also composed, never fails to delight me. 🎼🥁🎷
https://youtu.be/yjI8ouuQUD0?is=OeDxbA6TUq6Y55hM
Learned much and enjoyed immensely