Thanks for the great tribute. Didn't realize TG was still going. I got to talk to him when he was playing at Rick's Casablanca Bar on Lake Shore Dr. in Chicago, 1978. On a break, he came out and mingled with the crowd. My GF and I were at a small table near the front. I shook his hand and thanked him for the great performance. When he went back, the band was going to town and the lights finally fell on the piano player sitting in the rear, playing quietly. It was Steve Allen. He didn't come out – it was Terry's show – but man, what an evening. Btw, Lemon Drop was a riot.
In 1969 Gibbs was holding auditions for drummers, at the musician's union in L.A. The room was packed with musicians. About a dozen drummers got up to play. Terry had two tempos: too fast and too slow. I got the too fast one. After I came off the stand, Joe Maini said, "Good, you held it together."
Afterward, I learned that Mike Romero already had the gig and Terry was just being annoying by auditioning drummers. Romero was about 19 and a monster drummer.
Thank you for this beautiful post honoring Terry Gibbs on his 100th birthday and for drawing attention to the NEA,s failure to honor him. I would point out that this band issued four LPs back in the day - two on Verve and two on Mercury, with each label releasing one studio album and one live album. I mention this because I still vividly remember going for a walk in Cambridge, MA one freezing winter day and coming across the Verve side “Live at the Summit” in a record store I passed by chance. I brought it back to my friend’s place, put it on the turntable, and my jaw dropped when they lit into Bill Holman’s chart on Day In, Day Out. Absolutely incredible.
I was first exposed to the Dream Band recordings in the early 1980's, as my trumpet teacher in college had begun one of the first repertory jazz ensembles in the early 1970's, the Jazz Arts Group, now known as the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, and Terry had been a guest artist during their concert series. Another professor, who taught arranging and conducted the big band, also was a disciple of Bill Holman, and has had his own Dream Band for the past couple decades that plays on Monday nights, specializing in 1950's big band jazz. My own sentiments of the Dream Band echo those of many others, including that of its drummer, and I've continued to enjoy those recordings for the last 40 years. It is beyond obscene that Terry has not been recognized by the NEA.
Wow! This is my first exposure to Terry Gibbs. That first clip is awesome (overused but appropriate in this case). Terry Pollard more than holds her own on piano and vibes, as does Steve Allen on the last tune. Gibbs, though: talk about capturing lightning in a bottle. And the Dream Band is tops. I may have missed it, but do we know who wrote the arrangements for them? Great stuff. I hope Mr. Gibbs gets the recognition he deserves.
I have all of Terry's music and it's a complete joy. To me he's always been a jazz master. The live performances of the Dream Band are a treasure, and really jazz classics. It's time the NEA wakes up!
I had the great fortune to see Terry Gibbs perform with Steve Allen and his wife Jayne Meadows in 1971. They were incredibly nice people and fantastic musicians.
I got right to my desk and sent an email to NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson (chair@arts.com). Real simple: We, the sons and daughters of the American art form called Jazz, are outraged that Terry Gibbs has not been recognized as a NEA Jazz Master. Acknowledging the recent achievement of his 100th birthday, we demand you act with all deliberate speed.”
Perhaps others who read your important piece on Mr. Gibbs will join me and the many have have petitioned the NEA.
Thanks Ted. I must admit I'm not too familiar with Terry Gibbs. Even at my age there is music that is new to me thank goodness. He would be a very deserving recipient of a life time award from some publication such as Down Beat
I think in recent times there's been an attempt to write the West Coast out of Jazz History.
There is definitely a taught orthodoxy that says NY is the epicentre of all things Jazz.
The Dream band had great trombone players, like Frank Rosolino and Carl Fontana and all the top west coast cats!
Thanks for the great tribute. Didn't realize TG was still going. I got to talk to him when he was playing at Rick's Casablanca Bar on Lake Shore Dr. in Chicago, 1978. On a break, he came out and mingled with the crowd. My GF and I were at a small table near the front. I shook his hand and thanked him for the great performance. When he went back, the band was going to town and the lights finally fell on the piano player sitting in the rear, playing quietly. It was Steve Allen. He didn't come out – it was Terry's show – but man, what an evening. Btw, Lemon Drop was a riot.
Well, the NEA named Marshall Allen a “jazz master” this year at age 100, so maybe Gibbs’ time will still come. You can nominate him on their website.
What happened to Terry Pollard?
In 1969 Gibbs was holding auditions for drummers, at the musician's union in L.A. The room was packed with musicians. About a dozen drummers got up to play. Terry had two tempos: too fast and too slow. I got the too fast one. After I came off the stand, Joe Maini said, "Good, you held it together."
Afterward, I learned that Mike Romero already had the gig and Terry was just being annoying by auditioning drummers. Romero was about 19 and a monster drummer.
Thank you for this beautiful post honoring Terry Gibbs on his 100th birthday and for drawing attention to the NEA,s failure to honor him. I would point out that this band issued four LPs back in the day - two on Verve and two on Mercury, with each label releasing one studio album and one live album. I mention this because I still vividly remember going for a walk in Cambridge, MA one freezing winter day and coming across the Verve side “Live at the Summit” in a record store I passed by chance. I brought it back to my friend’s place, put it on the turntable, and my jaw dropped when they lit into Bill Holman’s chart on Day In, Day Out. Absolutely incredible.
Hopefully they don’t pull a John Mayall. So sad.
I was first exposed to the Dream Band recordings in the early 1980's, as my trumpet teacher in college had begun one of the first repertory jazz ensembles in the early 1970's, the Jazz Arts Group, now known as the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, and Terry had been a guest artist during their concert series. Another professor, who taught arranging and conducted the big band, also was a disciple of Bill Holman, and has had his own Dream Band for the past couple decades that plays on Monday nights, specializing in 1950's big band jazz. My own sentiments of the Dream Band echo those of many others, including that of its drummer, and I've continued to enjoy those recordings for the last 40 years. It is beyond obscene that Terry has not been recognized by the NEA.
Or, for that matter, Mike Gibbs
Wow! This is my first exposure to Terry Gibbs. That first clip is awesome (overused but appropriate in this case). Terry Pollard more than holds her own on piano and vibes, as does Steve Allen on the last tune. Gibbs, though: talk about capturing lightning in a bottle. And the Dream Band is tops. I may have missed it, but do we know who wrote the arrangements for them? Great stuff. I hope Mr. Gibbs gets the recognition he deserves.
Absolutely - every arrangement is credited on the old LPs and recent CDs.
I have all of Terry's music and it's a complete joy. To me he's always been a jazz master. The live performances of the Dream Band are a treasure, and really jazz classics. It's time the NEA wakes up!
Excellent. Thank you!
I love you
I had the great fortune to see Terry Gibbs perform with Steve Allen and his wife Jayne Meadows in 1971. They were incredibly nice people and fantastic musicians.
Just learned the deadline for NEA Jazz Master Nominations is fast approaching: October 31, 2024. Another commenter has provided the link above.
I got right to my desk and sent an email to NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson (chair@arts.com). Real simple: We, the sons and daughters of the American art form called Jazz, are outraged that Terry Gibbs has not been recognized as a NEA Jazz Master. Acknowledging the recent achievement of his 100th birthday, we demand you act with all deliberate speed.”
Perhaps others who read your important piece on Mr. Gibbs will join me and the many have have petitioned the NEA.
Thanks, Ted!
Thanks Ted. I must admit I'm not too familiar with Terry Gibbs. Even at my age there is music that is new to me thank goodness. He would be a very deserving recipient of a life time award from some publication such as Down Beat
I think in recent times there's been an attempt to write the West Coast out of Jazz History.
There is definitely a taught orthodoxy that says NY is the epicentre of all things Jazz.