Each Friday I pick a song–new, old, borrowed, blue–that’s been on my mind and in my ears, and write a short post about it.

This is “Blues for Smedley” by Oscar Peterson Trio with Clark Terry:

Last Friday night my buddy Oli was talking to me about Clark Terry, and how great Clark Terry is, and that Clark Terry is super, and how I should listen to Clark Terry. There was a little more to it than that, but the take away message was that I should spend a little time acquainting myself with the oeuvre of Clark Terry, so in one of my few free moments this week I listened to a couple of tracks. Here we get to watch and listen to a man playing a trumpet and flugelhorn duet with himself, and make it look as close to effortless as possible. The great Canadian Oscar Peterson’s trio is pretty hot, here, too.

Still, watching Clark Terry nonchalantly badass his way around two instruments raises some questions. Did somebody miss the flight to Finland? Could Oscar not afford another player?  Was Chuck Mangione not available?