Review "Stafford does a superlative job with a broad range of themes." --New York Times "Terell Stafford's intelligent and warm playing superbly matches the depths of Billy Strayhorn's timeless compositions on this record. The songs may be familiar by now, but the interpretations here are far from the usual fare. Terell's quintet approaches each work with great understanding to add new layers of musical meaning. What a treat." --Walter van de Leur, author of "Something To Live For: The Music of Billy Strayhorn." (New York: Oxford UP, 2002) "We are eager for the release of this CD. Terell Stafford is certainly one of the greatest musicians of our day." --Billy Strayhorn Songs, Inc. Product Description Billy Strayhorn is widely considered one of the greatest composers of our time, and his three-decade-long collaboration with Duke Ellington furnished the American songbook with a number of timeless classics. Trumpeter Terell Stafford's sense of melody and uniquely expressive sound make him ideal for Strayhorn's repertoire. Produced by Grammy-winning bassist and composer, John Clayton, "This Side of Strayhorn" offers a refreshing and unique interpretation of a number of Strayhorn's famous compositions. From the Artist "Recently, my group had the pleasure of participating in a week-long event titled "Celebrating Billy Strayhorn" in Strayhorn's hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Our performance with the Stivers School for the Arts Jazz Orchestra featured some of Strayhorn's most celebrated compositions as well as other lesser-known gems. The challenge for me was to choose the songs for our program from the many possibilities. With the help of Dutch musicologist, Walter van de Leur, and Billy Strayhorn Songs, Inc., we identified a number of these lesser-known gems and included them in our program. I asked our pianist, Bruce Barth, to arrange these songs in a way that would both celebrate Strayhorn and impart our own take on these enduring classics. That performance was the conception of what has now become "This Side of Strayhorn." With great humility, I express my gratitude and appreciation to the genius, perseverance, strength and endurance of Billy Strayhorn." About the Artist Born in Miami to musical parents, Stafford played his first trumpet at the age of thirteen. Growing up in Chicago and later in Silver Spring, Maryland, he studied classical music, but was drawn to jazz. While he pursued a degree in Music Education at the University of Maryland, Stafford played with the school's jazz band and began listening to every jazz record he could find. He soon discovered one of his first and most profound musical influences, Clifford Brown. In 1988, Stafford met trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, who suggested that Stafford study with Dr. William Fielder at Rutgers University. Stafford entered the Masters in Music program at Rutgers, where he received his graduate degree in Music Performance in 1993. At Rutgers, Stafford met another major influence on his career, saxophonist Bobby Watson, who invited him to join his group, Horizon. Over the next five years, Stafford learned in action, performing with Watson, co-leader Victor Lewis and Shirley Scott. From them, he soaked up information they had learned from the "Blakey school of music," referring to the late jazz drummer/bandleader, Art Blakey, and his ever evolving ensemble, the Jazz Messengers. With this training and his education, Stafford was beginning to make a mark as an arranger, composer and bandleader. After Horizon, Stafford joined McCoy Tyner's Latin All-Star Band, which featured some of the best Latin jazz players of our time, including trombonist Steve Turre, flutist Dave Valentin and percussionist Jerry Gonzalez. In addition to his role as a leader, Stafford has been an integral part of jazz groups led by such stellar performers as Kenny Barron, Matt Wilson (Arts & Crafts), Cedar Walton, the Clayton Brothers, Sadao Watanabe, Herbie Mann, and many New York-based big bands including Jon Faddis' Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Wynton Marsalis' Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band and the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Stafford has appeared on television ("Tonight Show with Jay Leno;" "You Bet Your Life with Bill Cosby), on the soundtrack for Robert DeNiro's feature film, "A Bronx Tale," and on NPR's "Billy Taylor's Jazz at The Kennedy Center," where he performed as featured guest artist with the Billy Taylor Trio as well as with his own quintet. Stafford is currently the director of Jazz Studies at Temple University. His previous MAXJAZZ recordings include "New Beginnings" (2003) and "Taking Chances" (Live at the Dakota) (2007)., ISBN13: B004LSJCU6 ISBN10: B004LSJCU6 Material Type: audioCDReview "Stafford does a superlative job with a broad range of themes." --New York Times "Terell Stafford's intelligent and warm playing superbly matches the depths of Billy Strayhorn's timeless compositions on this record. The songs may be familiar by now, but the interpretations here are far from the usual fare. Terell's quintet approaches each work with great understanding to add new layers of musical meaning. What a treat." --Walter van de Leur, author of "Something To Live For: The Music of Billy Strayhorn." (New York: Oxford UP, 2002) "We are eager for the release of this CD. Terell Stafford is certainly one of the greatest musicians of our day." --Billy Strayhorn Songs, Inc. Product Description Billy Strayhorn is widely considered one of the greatest composers of our time, and his three-decade-long collaboration with Duke Ellington furnished the American songbook with a number of timeless classics. Trumpeter Terell Stafford's sense of melody and uniquely expressive sound make him ideal for Strayhorn's repertoire. Produced by Grammy-winning bassist and composer, John Clayton, "This Side of Strayhorn" offers a refreshing and unique interpretation of a number of Strayhorn's famous compositions. From the Artist "Recently, my group had the pleasure of participating in a week-long event titled "Celebrating Billy Strayhorn" in Strayhorn's hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Our performance with the Stivers School for the Arts Jazz Orchestra featured some of Strayhorn's most celebrated compositions as well as other lesser-known gems. The challenge for me was to choose the songs for our program from the many possibilities. With the help of Dutch musicologist, Walter van de Leur, and Billy Strayhorn Songs, Inc., we identified a number of these lesser-known gems and included them in our program. I asked our pianist, Bruce Barth, to arrange these songs in a way that would both celebrate Strayhorn and impart our own take on these enduring classics. That performance was the conception of what has now become "This Side of Strayhorn." With great humility, I express my gratitude and appreciation to the genius, perseverance, strength and endurance of Billy Strayhorn." About the Artist Born in Miami to musical parents, Stafford played his first trumpet at the age of thirteen. Growing up in Chicago and later in Silver Spring, Maryland, he studied classical music, but was drawn to jazz. While he pursued a degree in Music Education at the University of Maryland, Stafford played with the school's jazz band and began listening to every jazz record he could find. He soon discovered one of his first and most profound musical influences, Clifford Brown. In 1988, Stafford met trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, who suggested that Stafford study with Dr. William Fielder at Rutgers University. Stafford entered the Masters in Music program at Rutgers, where he received his graduate degree in Music Performance in 1993. At Rutgers, Stafford met another major influence on his career, saxophonist Bobby Watson, who invited him to join his group, Horizon. Over the next five years, Stafford learned in action, performing with Watson, co-leader Victor Lewis and Shirley Scott. From them, he soaked up information they had learned from the "Blakey school of music," referring to the late jazz drummer/bandleader, Art Blakey, and his ever evolving ensemble, the Jazz Messengers. With this training and his education, Stafford was beginning to make a mark as an arranger, composer and bandleader. After Horizon, Stafford joined McCoy Tyner's Latin All-Star Band, which featured some of the best Latin jazz players of our time, including trombonist Steve Turre, flutist Dave Valentin and percussionist Jerry Gonzalez. In addition to his role as a leader, Stafford has been an integral part of jazz groups led by such stellar performers as Kenny Barron, Matt Wilson (Arts & Crafts), Cedar Walton, the Clayton Brothers, Sadao Watanabe, Herbie Mann, and many New York-based big bands including Jon Faddis' Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Wynton Marsalis' Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band and the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Stafford has appeared on television ("Tonight Show with Jay Leno;" "You Bet Your Life with Bill Cosby), on the soundtrack for Robert DeNiro's feature film, "A Bronx Tale," and on NPR's "Billy Taylor's Jazz at The Kennedy Center," where he performed as featured guest artist with the Billy Taylor Trio as well as with his own quintet. Stafford is currently the director of Jazz Studies at Temple University. His previous MAXJAZZ recordings include "New Beginnings" (2003) and "Taking Chances" (Live at the Dakota) (2007)., ISBN13: B004LSJCU6 ISBN10: B004LSJCU6 Material Type: audioCD , ISBN13: B004LSJCU6 ISBN10: B004LSJCU6 Material Type: audioCD