THE COMPLETE ALBUMS COLLECTION: 1961 - 1963 One of the longest-serving and hardest-working musicians to feature on the American jazz scene, there are few who can claim to have had the same impact in the field as Clark Terry. A master in both bebop and swing territory, Terry lent his trumpeting talent to hundreds of recordings, as well as becoming the first flugelhorn pioneer in the genre. By 1960, Terry had well and truly broken out onto the international stage, having become the first African American player to be employed as a staff musician on a major television network when he joined NBC to play with The Tonight Show Band, a position he held until 1972. Over his seven decades of service to music, Terry has been recognised generously albeit deservedly by receiving over 250 awards There is little doubt that Clark Terry will be remembered as one of the most talented and versatile musicians to ever grace the jazz idiom, turning his hand to any number of styles and practices. This four disc collection contains his complete works as bandleader during the period that would mark his rise to international fame, allowing him to break boundaries and achieve accolades that few since have been able to replicate. With over four hours of superbly presented and remastered music in total, this set provides the backdrop for another chapter in this exceptional musicians career, and in summation forms a vital artifact in the glorious world history of jazz.