Su Terry began music at five on accordion and grew up immersed in jazz through her father’s records and WRVR FM. As a teenager she studied with John Mehegan, won a bet by writing a big band chart, and by fifteen was performing professionally. At the Hartt School she trained as a classical clarinetist while studying privately with Jackie McLean for five years, hosted a weekly jazz radio show, and later earned Alumna of the Year. Her career includes work with major figures such as Clark Terry, Billy Taylor, and Wynton Marsalis, along with orchestral soloist roles and performances at leading festivals and venues worldwide. She has over eighty recordings and multiple awards for composition and arranging.
She now lives in Ecuador, leads projects like Jazz de Barro, and founded the Cuenca Jazz Academy to mentor younger musicians. Her writing includes books, columns, and her Substack Temple of Artists, where she explores music, culture, and philosophy. Alongside music, she has a long record in martial arts with nine championship gold medals and integrates those practices into her artistic work. Check out her thoughts on John Coltrane, and the Shakuhachi.
The other player with Su in the shakuhachi scene is Shakuhachi master Cornelius Boots.
http://suterry.com
and for more Trane
http://coltranecode.com
#johncoltrane #suterry #shakuhachi
