Personnel:

Terry Pollard (p), Don Fagerquist, Thad Jones (tp), Gene Quill (as), Billy Mitchell (ts), Terry Gibbs (vib), Howard Roberts, Dick Garcia (g), Herman Wright, Bill Anthony, Alvin Jackson (b), Frank DeVito, Bert Dahlander, Jerry Segal, Frank Isola, Elvin Jones (d)

Pianist and vibraphonist Terry Pollard (1931-2009) was one of the leading jazz musicians in the thriving Detroit jazz scene of the 1940s and 50s. She was a wellknown figure in her hometown as early as 1948, but it was not until 1953 when her musical talent achieved national prominence, after Terry Gibbs—USA’s top vibraphonist—asked her to join his quartet for a country-wide tour. Both played with such authority, that Terry ended up tempering Gibbs’ usual irrepressibility with the sobriety of her piano, the sensitive eloquence that flows from her solos, and her uncanny ability to match Gibbs in the hard swinging tunes.

This CD set gathers the best of Pollard’s piano, highlighting the only album she recorded as a leader, but including too the best of her performances with the groups of Terry Gibbs and guitarist Dick Garcia. These are some memorable moments of her short career, brilliant and wonderfully pulsating, full of consistently well-conceived solos. She plays with the freshness and extended logic conception of Bud Powell, but cuts Wynton Kelly and Horace Silver in the strength of her playing, the irresistible impact of her emotion, and the deep sureness of her beat.

In 1958, just as she was emerging as an original voice, as an exciting asset to the contemporary scene, Terry Pollard retired from her full-time music career in order to raise a family. Still, she continued to play locally in Detroit, where she led a fine trio at the Hobby Bar, and performed with visiting artists.

TRACKLIST:

01. Where Or When (Rodgers / Hart) 3:12

02. The More I See You (Warren / Gordon) 4:20

03. Stompin’ At the Savoy (Sampson / Goodman / Webb / Razaf) 2:14

04. Lonely Dreams (Terry Gibbs) 4:03

05. Almost Like Being in Love (Loewe / Lerner) 3:21

06. I’ll Remember April (Raye / DePaul / Johnston) 4:57

07. Laura (David Raksin) 3:57

08. Scrapple from the Apple (Charlie Parker) 5:11

09. Mean To Me (Turk / Ahlert) 3:03

10. Dicky’s Dream (Basie / Young) 7:06

11. Emaline (McHugh / Little) 3:45

12. Nutty Notes (Terry Gibbs) 5:54

13. Autumn Serenade (DeRose / Gallop) 6:03

14. Pretty Face (Terry Gibbs) 4:11

15. Then It Happens (Terry Gibbs) 4:05

16. Fedj (Terry Pollard) 3:51

17. It Could Happen To You (Burke / Van Heusen) 5:19

18. Blue Room (Rodgers / Hart) 2:53

Sources:

Tracks # 1,2,5,7,8,11,13 & 16, from the 10-inch album

“Terry Pollard” (Bethlehem BCP-1015)

Tracks #4,10,12 & 14, from the 12-inch album “Terry Gibbs” (EmArcy MG 36047)

Tracks #6,9 & 15, from the 12-inch album

“Terry Gibbs –Mallets-A-Plenty” (EmArcy MG 36075)

Tracks # 3 & 17, from the 12-inch album

“Dick Garcia –A Message from Garcia” (Dawn DLP-1106)

Track 18, from the 7-inch EP “Billy Mitchell Quintet” (Dee Gee EP 4009)

Terry Pollard, plays piano in all tracks

Personnel on "Terry Pollard":

Howard Roberts, guitar; Herman Wright, bass; Frank DeVito, drums; Don Fagerquist, trumpet (#5,13,16).

Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, January 10, 1955

Personnel on "Terry Gibbs" & "Mallets-A-Plenty":

Terry Gibbs, vibes; Herman Wright, bass; Niels Dahlander (#4, 10, 12, 14), Jerry Segal (#6, 9, 15), drums.

Recorded in New York City, Sept. 14, 1955 (#4,10,12,14), June 15, 1956 (#6,9,15)

Personnel on "A Message from Garcia":

Gene Quill, alto sax; Dick Garcia, guitar; Bill Anthony, bass; Frank Isola, drums.

Recorded in New York City, 1956

Personnel on "Billy Mitchell Quintet":

Thad Jones, trumpet; Billy Mitchell, tenor sax; Alvin Jackson, bass; Elvin Jones, drums.

Recorded in Detroit, 1953

Original recordings produced by Red Clyde, Bob Shad, Chuck Darwin & Dave Usher

Cover photo: (C) Herman Leonard Photography LLC

Other photos: FSR archives

Compiled for CD release by Jordi Pujol

Hi Fi / Mono · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered