Inside the Mind of a Musician (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780985924577)

Su Terry, saxophonist, clarinetist and composer, began her professional music career at the age of 16. Enrolling in the Hartt School of the University of Hartford as a classical clarinetist two years later, her secret agenda was to study saxophone with the late jazz legend Jackie McLean. She graduated with honors and was named the Hartt School Alum of the Year in 2001. Su first heard jazz as a child growing up in Connecticut, where her father had an extensive record collection and she listened to jazz station WRVR FM non-stop. As a teenager studying with noted pianist and educator John Mehegan, Su began her composing career by writing a big band arrangement for her high school jazz ensemble. Mehegan bet her an ice cream cone she couldn't do it. She won. Upon her arrival in New York in the early 1980's, Su became a featured soloist with bands led by jazz masters Charli Persip, Clifford Jordan, Walter Bishop, Jr. and Jaki Byard. She went on to work with greats such as Dr. Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, Peggy Stern, Melba Liston, Hilton Ruiz, Irene Reid, Joe Lee Wilson and Clarice Assad. She's been a Jazz soloist with the National Symphony, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Hartford Symphony, the New York Pops and the Florida Pops, and performs worldwide. Her discography currently contains over fifty recordings, including four as leader and three as co-leader. She's the author of several music instruction books, two non-fiction books and an illustrated short novel. She is a regular contributor to Allegro Magazine and a columnist for The Note. In 2014 she wrote and starred in an award-winning documentary short titled "The Source." Su's other passion is for the martial arts--she is an 8-time USKSF Championship Tournament gold medalist in taijiquan. Her website is www.suterry.com, where you can download articles, music, see photos and videos and much more. Su Terry is a Yamaha Saxophone Artist. "One should almost say that this young lady is born for her instrument. That relaxed, exalted playing! That rhythmic feeling! That improvisational skill! Simply extraordinary!" Die Wahrheit, Berlin, Germany "She has a formidable musical intelligence. . ." Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD "Su Terry possesses a truly individual voice . . . she is especially compelling." Cadence Magazine www.suterry.com