Clark Terry - What Makes Sammy Swing!

This is an exceedingly attractive record. Why? Because it presents a group of fine jazz men who have settled into some deep swinging grooves, and because the music they’re playing is fresh, exciting and yet very much non-run-of-the-mill.

Jazz records often supply just one or the other of these attributes — either some very good musicians blowing some very uninspired numbers or else some interesting pieces attacked by a group of men whose ambitions tend to exceed their musicianship.

But here we have a record in which the writing is on a par with the playing. The musicians, all of them former jazz group standouts whose all-around musical ability permits them to work in the recording and television studios, obviously enjoy blowing the clever Pat Williams arrangements of Ervin Drake’s score. Throughout they transmit not only good jazz passages but also a most refreshing and contagious joie-de-vivre. They are led by Clark Terry, the former Duke Ellington trumpeter, one of the most satisfying and exciting of today’s jazz musicians, whose grasp of modern jazz combined with a healthy respect for the art’s tradition set the mood and style of the entire septet. I think you might enjoy playing this record a goodly number of times. It certainly will give anyone who likes tasty, relaxed jazz a great deal of highly enjoyable listening! *George T. Simon (Liner notes)*

This obscure 1963 studio session led by Clark Terry features the music from Ervin Drake's Broadway show "What Makes Sammy Run", with arrangements by Pat Williams, but the real attraction to it is the cast of musicians. In addition to the always enjoyable trumpeter, Phil Woods, Urbie Green, Seldon Powell, Dave McKenna, George Duvivier, and Mel Lewis are present. "The Friendliest Thing" is a rare opportunity to hear Woods on flute, joining Terry's muted horn for this easygoing reworking of the chord changes to "Tea for Two". The swinging "Humble" showcases the leader on open horn, while Woods' matchless alto sax is center stage in the bossa nova "Maybe Some Other Time". While the music on this disc may be unfamiliar to the vast majority of jazz fans, the strong melodies and outstanding efforts of the players make this long out of print record worth acquiring. *Ken Dryden*

What Makes Sammy Swing features an All-Star Septet with such outstanding figures as Phil Woods (playing both clarinet and flute in addition to alto sax!), Urbie Green and Dave McKenna.

First published in 1941, "What Makes Sammy Run?" was originally a novel by Budd Schulberg. It is a rags to riches story chronicling the rise and fall of Sammy Glick, a Jewish boy born in New York's Lower East Side who makes up his mind early in life to escape the ghetto and climb the ladder of success. It was later made into a successful Broadway show with music by Ervin Drake and in 1963, Clark Terry and an all-star group of musicians were called to make a record with jazz versions of some of the musical’s songs, with arrangements by Pat Williams.

As Terry himself was quoted on the original liner notes, none of the musicians had the least knowledge about the music or the arrangements before entering the studio. The results, however, are highly interesting as they present a distinguished septet reacting to unfamiliar music. Clark Terry, as usual, alternates between trumpet and flugelhorn, while Seldon Powell switches between tenor sax, baritone sax and bass clarinet.

The most unusual element of these recordings, however, is hearing Phil Woods soloing on clarinet and flute. *Jordi Pujol*

Side 1

1 - A Room Without Windows

2 - You're No Good

3 - My Hometown

4 - A New Pair Of Shoes

5 - The Friendliest

Side 2

6 - Humble

7 - Maybe Some Other Time

8 - Something To Live For

9 - Bachelor Gal

10 - Somedays Everything Goes Wrong

(All compositions by Ervin Drake)

Clark Terry (trumpet, flugelhorn), Phil Woods (alto sax, clarinet, flute), Seldon Powell (tenor sax, baritone sax, bass clarinet), Urbie Green (trombone), Dave McKenna (piano), George Duvivier (bass), Mel Lewis (drums).

Recorded in New York, August 1963.