Lilian Terry (1930-2023) was active in the European jazz field since the late 1950s as a singer, journalist, Italian radio and TV producer, concert organizer, and educator. In 2017, she published her first book, Dizzy, Duke, Brother Ray, and Friends, through the University of Illinois Press.
Dizzy, Duke, Brother Ray and Friends
On and Off the Record with Jazz Greats
Lilian Terry has lived music. As a performer, she has shared the stage with Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone. She cofounded the European Jazz Federation and pioneered jazz education in Italy. Her work as a director-producer of radio and television programs has spread the music by introducing countless people to its legendary performers.
Drawing on Terry’s long friendships and professional associations, Dizzy, Duke, Brother Ray, and Friends offers readers a rare opportunity to hear intimate conversations with some of the world’s greatest musical figures. Dizzy Gillespie offers his thoughts on playing with “sanctified” rhythm and the all-important personal touch in performance. Duke Ellington discourses on jazz history and concludes an interview to sing a self-written ditty in Italian. Ray Charles gives candid thoughts on race and politics while taking charge of Terry’s tape recorder. Abbey Lincoln, Max Roach, Horace Silver, Bill Evans—all provide Terry and her readers with unforgettable encounters. The result is a collection of profiles, some stretching over a decade or more, that reveal these performers in ways that illuminate their humanity and expand our appreciation of their art.
Lilian Terry's Jazz Memoirs
Having reached my 90th year of age, I look back at 70 years of activity in the world of jazz music and realize my extraordinary good fortune in having lived and worked with historical artists who - through all the many years - have accepted, befriended and given me their trust. Iconic names who shared aspects of their lives with me, and through so very many years. I had not considered it as my job, but rather an essential meaning of my life, and they had understood, and therefore opened their doors and let me in.
Today I own a large collection of recorded interviews where the artists had felt free to discuss all subjects of interest to them: from music to politics, to religion and private family life. Alas, many of them have left us. Therefore - being on my own way out - I feel that I owe it to them and to their public, that they should be appreciated not only for their artistic worth but also for their private, human way of being; which I am able to share with our readers.
My first step was to obtain publication, by the University of Illinois Press, of the book, Dizzy, Duke, Brother Ray and Friends, where I offered a series of personal portraits of the following artists: Duke Ellington, Abbey Lincoln, Max Roach, Horace Silver, Ray Charles, Bill Evans and Dizzy Gillespie.
To this list I shall also add other historic musicians: starting alphabetically with Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck, Ornette Coleman, Errol Garner and on to Sonny Rollins, and finally to Mal Waldron. Over 25 artists in all.
Lilian Terry, Nice, France, 2021
Sonny Rollins and Lilian Terry in Rome, 1963
He spent a week in Rome to discover 'my' Eternal City. We developed a strong spiritual bond and he informed me that we meet every 144 years, since ancient Egypt. Why not?
Anita O'Day and Lilian Terry at Antibes Juan les Pins Festival, 1966
Discussing with Anita O'Day the woes of female Jazz singers.
Lilian Terry and Duke Ellington, Antibes/Juan les Pins, 1966
Ah! Love you madly, Uncle Eddie!
Lilian Terry and Max Roach, Milan, 1968
Handsome, brilliant Max Roach, fortunate husband (then) of Abbey Lincoln.