TERRY CLARKE (drummer) was born August 20, 1944 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He began displaying rhythmic aptitude at a very early age, and was just 12 twelve years old when he began studying formally with noted drum teacher and author, Jim Blackley, Blackley was, and remains, a primary figure in Clarke’s continuing development as a musician.
In 1965, Clarke moved to San Francisco to work with legendary saxophonist, John Handy III. He performed with Handy for the next two and a half years, during which time the GRAMMY nominated recording, Live at The Monterey Jazz Festival (Columbia – 1966) was made. Following the John Handy experience (which included Terry’s long-time musical collaborator and friend, Don Thompson), Clarke began building his reputation for versatility by joining the world-famous pop vocal group, “The Fifth Dimension” at the height of their popularity, travelling and performed extensively with them throughout the U.S.A., Canada and Europe.
Clarke left “The Fifth Dimension” in 1970, subsequently re-locating to Toronto where, for the next 15, he played an abundance of jazz in all styles, and established himself as a major figure in Toronto’s then-considerable studio scene. Countless television shows, jingles and recording dates were his mainstay, as well performances in legendary Toronto jazz clubs including “George’s Spaghetti House”, “Bourbon Steet”, and “Basin Street”, often working with international jazz figures including Frank Rossolino and Lenny Breau. During the same period, he also toured extensively in Japan and Europe with jazz guitar legend Jim Hall and piano great, Oscar Peterson.
Terry Clarke is an original member of the “Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass” jazz big band, recording and touring with the world-acclaimed ensemble for 25 years. In 1985, seeking greater musical challenges, Clarke moved to New York City to pursue an exclusively jazz-oriented career. During his tenure there, he worked and recorded with The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, Helen Merrill, Toots Theilemans, Ann Hampton Callaway, Red Mitchell, Marvin Stamm, Jim Hall, Bill Mays, Roger Kellaway, and Joe Roccisano, to list just a few.
Having recorded over 300 albums with various jazz artists, Terry Clarke is a familiar face at jazz festivals, concert halls, and venues throughout the world. In August of 1999, he returned to Toronto, reuniting with Rob to join his exciting new ensemble, “The Rob McConnell Tentet”, Terry Clarke’s most recent CD release is ‘Bick’s Bag’ (Triplet Records) featuring the trio of Bill Mays, Neil Swainson, and Terry Clarke, in tribute to Canadian jazz guitar legend, Ed Bickert.
Terry Clarke continues to perform and record with a number of international artists, including Nancy Wilson, Bill Mays, Renee Rosnes, Jim Hall, and Helen Merrill, as well as with an exciting line-up of Canadian musicians, among them David Braid, Jake Langley, Don Thompson, Nancy Walker, Neil Swainson, and David Occhipinti. Clarke is also an enthusiastic jazz educator, and for the past several years has been a member of the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto.
In 2009, Terry released his first album as a leader, “It’s About Time.” The record featured Jim Hall, Greg Osby, Joe Lovano, Phil Dwyer, and Don Thompson and won the JUNO Award for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year in 2010. The following summer, Terry toured Canada extensively with a trio that featured multi-instrumentalists Phil Dwyer and Don Thompson.
Awards:
2002 – Named a Member of the Order of Canada, the highest civilian honour given in this country. It is granted to Canadian citizens ‘for outstanding achievement and service to the country or to humanity at large.’
2004 – National Jazz Awards winner as ‘Drummer of the Year’
2005 – National Jazz Awards winner as ‘Drummer of the Year’
2006 – National Jazz Awards winner as ‘Drummer of the Year’
2007 – National Jazz Awards winner as ‘Drummer of the Year’
2008 – National Jazz Awards winner as ‘Drummer of the Year’
2010 – JUNO Award for ‘Traditional Jazz Album’ for the album “It’s About Time”