Louis Bellson & Clark Terry
Louie & Clark Expedition 2
Percussion Power
By George W. Harris

Well, this discs answers the question, “When do musicians lose their ability to perform and swing?”. Octogenarians Bellson and Terry demonstrate on this delightful big band collaboration that it is definitely sometime after 80, as these guys are STILL going strong! Reuniting from their days with Duke Ellington from about 50 years ago (!), masters B&C celebrate the ageless qualities of joy, grace and beauty on this disc. The opening four piece “Chicago Suite” is a well-crafted salute to American cities, and features the underrated composing abilities of Mr. B. His drumming on this piece, along with Terry’s elegant and sweet-toned horn, is archetypal in it’s timeless elegance. The rest of the band includes some great soloing by trumpeter Stjepko Gut and tenor saxist Guerra, particularly on the sumptuous “Ballade.” There isn’t a weak nanosecond on this celebratory disc. It’s simply boggling to the mind how Terry still can make such amazing music, proving that his “Porgy Suite” of a couple years back was no fluke. These gents are an invaluable asset to the jazz scene, and still have something important to say, which is more than can be said to most musicians under 50.