When the experienced bandleader and trumpet player, Dan Terry (1924-2011), settled in Los Angeles in spring 1952, he organized a 16-piece band, hired some of the finest West Coast players and used one of the scene’s best new arrangers in Marty Paich. He won a successful residency at the Hollywood Club Oasis and a couple of singles for a small Pasadena label followed, but it proved difficult to keep the band together financially, and they disbanded.

In the following years, Dan Terry continued up to early Nineties —always with the same enthusiasm— heading ambitious big band projects. And, though not all made a lasting mark, his ability to attract the finest players was a tribute to the regard in which he was held. He remains one of the most underrated bandleaders of the post Big Band Era.

PERSONNEL:

ON TRACKS [1-4]:
DAN TERRY and His Orchestra — Arrangements by Marty Paich
Dan Terry (tp); Pete Candoli, Bobby Clark, Ollie Mitchell, Carlton McBeath (tp)
Jimmy Priddy, John Halliburton, Lloyd Ulyate, Fred Lewis (tb); Clint Neagley, Herb Steed (as)
Bob Enevoldsen (ts, v-tb); Tino Isgrow (ts); Bob Lawson (bs); Fred Otis (p);
Lloyd Lunham (b); Shelly Manne (d); Beverly Moran (voc,#4).
Recorded at Radio Recorders Studios, Hollywood, Ca, June 19, 1952.

ON TRACKS [5-18]:
DAN TERRY and His Orchestra — Arrangements by Gene Roland
Dan Terry (tp); Conrad Gozzo, John Anderson, Vito Mangano, Ray Linn, Tom Reeves (tp);
Milt Bernhart, Herbie Harper, Jimmy Knepper, Jimmy Priddy (tb); Herb Geller, Bud Shank (as)
Joe Maini, Gil Bernal (ts); Dave Madden (bs); Fred Otis (p); Al Hendrickson (g);
Joe Mondragon (b); Alvin Stoller (d); The Terrytones, vocal group.
Recorded at Radio Recorders Studios, Hollywood, February 22-25, 1954

ON TRACKS [19-20]:
DAN TERRY & the Band with the HI-FI Sound — Arranger Gene Roland
Dan Terry (tp); Leo Ball, John Frosk, Clyde Reasinger, Gene Roland (tp)
Billy Byers, Willie Dennis, Jimmy Knepper, Billy VerPlank (tb); Dick Meldonian, Gene Quill (as);
Jim Reider, Fred Greenwall (ts); Gene Allen (bs); Bob Corwin (p); Sam Herman (g);
Bill Takas (b); Jimmy Campbell (d); Freddie Martell, singers (#19).
Recorded in New York City, March 1958

ON TRACKS [21-26]:
DAN TERRY'S Big Band — Arrangements by Ernie Wilkins
Dan Terry (tp); Clyde Reasinger, Bobby Nichols, Benny Bailey, John Estridge (tp);
Eph Resnick, Lawrence Boyle, Roy Wiegand Jr., Thomas Main (tb); Edmund J. Pistey, Aaron Sachs (as);
 Max Robinson, Ronnie Jannelli (ts); Hal Turner (p); Howie Collins (g); Jack Six (b);
Richard Sheridan (d).
Recorded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, February 10, 1961

ON TRACKS [27-28]:
DAN TERRY and His New Yorkers — Arrangements by Gene Roland
Rolf Ericson (flhn); Eddie Bert, Jimmy Knepper, Willie Dennis (tb);
Dick Meldonian, Jerome Richardson, Budd Johnson, Irv Moscher (ss); Bobby Donovan (as);
Zoot Sims (ts); Gene Allen (bs); Ralph Martin (p); unknown, bass; Sonny Payne (d).
Recorded at Columbia Studio, New York City, January 25, 1963.

TRACKS:

01. Wail-Tail
02. Autumn in New York
03. Terry Cloth
04. Free Again
05. Terry’s Tune
06. Denim Blues
07. Sloppy Joe
08. Saddle Shoe Shuffle
09. Jelly Bean
10. Seventeen
11. Goofin’ Blues
12. Lazy Alley
13. Organ Grinder’s Swing
14. White Buck Special
15. Totem Pole
16. Levi Leap
17. Southern Fried
18. Teen Ager
19. Coca Cola Rock
20. Bull Fiddle Walk
21. Good Feeling Blues
22. It’s a Wonderful World
23. Trailways Five Star
24. Catalina Crawl
25. Sophisticated Lady
26. Metronome Charge
27. Jazzinova
28. Eclipse