Seven Classic Jazz Albums brings together a pivotal run of late-1950s to early-1960s sessions led by and featuring premier modern jazz stylists. Centered around the lyrical trumpet and flugelhorn voice of Clark Terry—renowned for his tenure with the Count Basie and Duke Ellington orchestras and for bridging swing and bebop—this collection traces the evolution of postwar jazz from hard-bop drive to cool sophistication and colorful small-group arrangements. With performances connected to figures like Duke Ellington and peers from the New York scene, these albums highlight inventive brass and reed writing, crisp rhythm-section interplay, and memorable melodic themes. Ideal for newcomers seeking a comprehensive window into classic jazz craftsmanship and for collectors wanting cornerstone LPs in one cohesive set, it showcases the versatility and enduring influence of mid-century jazz innovators.

• Artist: Various Artists
• Format: Audio CD
• Release Type: Compilation
• Genre: Jazz
• Featuring: Clark Terry, Duke Ellington and associates

1. Serenade to a Bus Seat
2. Duke with a Difference
3. In Orbit
4. Out on a Limb
5. Color Changes
6. Everything's Mellow
7. All American

• Edition: Standard Edition

• Media: Jewel Case CD

Clark Terry (1920–2015) was one of jazz’s most celebrated trumpeters and a pioneering master of the flugelhorn in modern jazz. A key voice in the big bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington, Terry became renowned for his warm tone, effortless swing, and impeccable phrasing. He helped bridge swing, bebop, and post-bop, recording prolifically as both sideman and leader while nurturing generations of musicians through his teaching and mentorship. Terry’s collaborations spanned luminaries across eras, and his versatility—equally at home in exuberant small-group settings and elegant orchestral arrangements—cemented his legacy as a cornerstone of 20th-century jazz.