Serenade to a Bus Seat

No one could ever accuse Clark Terry of solemnity or detachment; his penchant for humor, especially his scat singing and "mumbles" routine, often triggered accusations of silliness. But Terry was an excellent modern trumpeter who perfected – among many other things – "dialogues" with himself, sometimes playing different instruments and other times alternating between mute and unmuted passages. His tone, range, and solo technique were superb, and he was equally proficient at swing or bebop. Terry worked in local groups around the St. Louis area, then was in a Navy band during World War II with Willie Smith.