Clark Terry discusses his travels.

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Clark Terry discusses the reception of jazz in Africa.

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Clark Terry discusses the merits of being a showman and entertainer versus a musician.

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Q: “Something in the greater sense that’s missing in jazz is the showmanship, and it’s something that you keep alive to a much greater degree than a lot of people simply by virtue of the fact that you’ll get up there and sing and do a little bit of entertaining along with your music. I mean, the music quality doesn’t have to suffer at all just to involve people and entertain them as well…”

A: Clark Terry: “You know, what happened to the ... we went through a period where young musicians reached a point where they felt that they were hip, you know. And a little bit aloof and a little bit above the average layman, which was a mistake because they forgot right then and there that the so-called average layman was the one who is paying for the perpetuation of his craft, you know. And keeping him involved, you know. So the minute you cut off the public, then you establish a sort of wall between what's happening on stage and the people outside. This is the big difference and a lot of young people, let's say, before they reached the point where they felt so aloof over these other people, then it's so ...”

Interviewer: “Like superior.”

Clark Terry: “Yeah, superior attitude.”

Interviewer: “Yeah.”

Clark Terry: “And don't touch me, I'm a star. You know, get away from me, I'm a performer. That type of thing. And I think it was just ridiculous and this thing became a whole derogatory type of an attitude that stayed involved and it's still prevalent, very prevalent on the bandstand. So much so until they reach the point, on some occasions, where cats would turn their backs to the audience and totally disconcerned with those who came to see you.”

Interviewer: “And they were just...”

Clark Terry: “And they forgot that while you're on the bandstand, you're there to entertain. You're more or less like a public servant, in a sense, you know, really.”