Clark Terry – Clark After Dark: The Ballad Artistry Of Clark Terry (1978/2015) [Official Digital Download 24bit/88,2kHz]

Clark After Dark was recorded in London in September, 1977 and, as the title suggests, features Terry playing flugelhorn over orchestral arrangements of mostly familiar ballads. The program includes ‘Misty,’ ‘Nature Boy,’ ‘Georgia On My Mind,’ ‘November Song,’ ‘Clark After Dark,’ ‘Willow Weep For Me,’ ‘Yesterdays,’ ‘Emily,’ ‘Angel Eyes’ and ‘Girl Talk.’ Besides Terry, the only other musician identified individually is conductor Nat Peck, who’s also credited with playing piano, despite being best known as a trombonist.

Clark Terry’s 1977 studio date with an orchestra conducted by Peter Herbolzheimer might very well fall into the easy listening category were it not for his brilliant improvisations on fluegelhorn, which he plays throughout the session. Most of the material consists of classic songs that Terry was undoubtedly very familiar with by the time of this 1977 recording, including “Misty,” “Willow Weep for Me,” “Angel Eyes,” and “Yesterdays,” with the arrangements all having pretty much a low-key, late-night feeling, hence the album title. Producer Mike Hennessey co-wrote “November Song” with Willi Fruth, a ballad with swirling strings; and Herbolzheimer contributed “Clark After Dark,” a tasty blues that is a good deal looser than most of the rest of the album, which also features great solos by pianist Gordon Beck and trombonist Dave Horler, as well as some great muted horn from Terry. The loping “Girl Talk” showcases tenor saxophonist Tony Coe and guitarist Martin Kershaw briefly. While this isn’t one of Clark Terry’s most essential LPs, his flawless playing make it a worthwhile investment — if you can only find it. –Ken Dryden

Tracklist:
01. Clark Terry, Peter Herbolzheimer Orchestra – Misty (05:30)
02. Clark Terry, Peter Herbolzheimer Orchestra – Nature Boy (04:22)
03. Clark Terry, Peter Herbolzheimer Orchestra – Georgia on my Mind (05:22)
04. Clark Terry, Peter Herbolzheimer Orchestra – November Song (05:05)
05. Clark Terry, Peter Herbolzheimer Orchestra – Clark After Dark (06:16)
06. Clark Terry, Peter Herbolzheimer Orchestra – Willow Weep For Me (05:51)
07. Clark Terry, Peter Herbolzheimer Orchestra – Roberta: Yesterdays (04:24)
08. Clark Terry, Peter Herbolzheimer Orchestra – Emily (04:30)
09. Clark Terry, Peter Herbolzheimer Orchestra – Angel Eyes (05:33)
10. Clark Terry, Peter Herbolzheimer Orchestra – Girl Talk (05:07)

Personnel:
Alto Saxophone – Al Newman, Roy Willox
Arranged By – Horst Mühlbradt (tracks: 4, 7), Jerry Van Rooyen (tracks: 3), Peter Herbolzheimer (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8 to 10)
Baritone Saxophone – Ronnie Ross
Bass – Chris Laurence
Bass Clarinet – Al Newman
Cello – Alan Dalziel, Bram Martin, Derek Simpson, Vivien Joseph
Clarinet – Ronnie Ross, Roy Willox, Tony Coe
Concertmaster [Violin, Leader] – Tony Gilbert
Conductor – Peter Herbolzheimer
Contractor [Orchestra Assembled By] – Nat Peck
Double Bass – Arthur Watts, Rodney Stratford
Flugelhorn – Clark Terry
Flute – Roy Willox, Stan Sulzman, Tony Coe
Flute [Alto] – Stan Sulzman
French Horn – Terry Johns
Guitar – Martin Kershaw
Percussion – Tristan Fry
Piano – Gordon Beck
Tenor Saxophone – Stan Sulzman, Tony Coe
Trombone – Cliff Hardy, Dave Horler, Nat Peck, Ray Premru
Trumpet – Dave Hancock (tracks: 1, 5, 6, 10), Derek Watkins (tracks: 1 to 5, 7 to 9), Eddie Blair (tracks: 2 to 4, 7 to 10), Kenny Wheeler, Tony Fisher (2)
Viola – Ken Essex, Luciano Jorio, Margaret Major, Rusein Gunes
Violin – Bela Dekany, Bill Reid (3), Charles Vorzanger, Dennis McConnell, Derek Solomon, Desmond Bradley, Diana Cummings, Fred Parrington, Hans Geiger, Homi Kagnga, Jim Archer, John Willison, Max Salpeter, Michael Jones (6), Paul Sherman (3), Peter Benson, Bill Armon