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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZGIBBS, Terry(b Julius Gubenko, 13 Oct. '24, Brooklyn NJ) Vibes, also drums; won Major Bowes amateur contest at twelve, turned pro on drums, served in WWII, worked for Tommy Dorsey, Chubby Jackson, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman late '40s, with Charlie Shavers/Louie Bellson, then Benny Goodman small groups; formed own groups. He was seen as the only vibist in bop (with Milt Jackson), succeeding Lionel Hampton on the instrument; in fact he was closer in style to Hampton than Jackson: with roots in the swing era he was a popular mainstream artist. First records as leader on Prestige '49, on Savoy '51, Brunswick '52--4, adding brass and reeds '54, five reeds on EmArcy '55 arr. by Manny Albam, on EmArcy '58 arr. by Pete Rugolo; continued with small groups but also led highly rated big bands, with 19 pieces on EmArcy '56, on Mercury '59, plus Live At The Summit '61 and another LP from the Summit Club '62 on Verve. The band had a West Coast Kenton flavour but was closer to Herman in its devotion to swing: excellent previously unreleased two vols of Dream Band '59 on Contemporary '87 with Conte Candoli, Bill Perkins, Mel Lewis, others; arr. by Bill Holman, Al Cohn, Manny Albam, Lennie Niehaus, Med Flory (later formed Supersax). Later small-group LPs incl. quartets The Family Album, later called February 19th 1963 on Jazz Vault UK, Take It From Me '64 (latter with Kenny Burrell, Sam Jones, Louis Hayes); LP on Limelight '63, on Dot '65--6; he became more involved with studio work as mus. dir. on TV shows (e.g. Steve Allen) and did not record for more than ten years. Rare LPs on obscure or Japanese labels since '78, then Jazz Party -- First Time Together on Palo Alto with Buddy DeFranco, The Latin Connection '86 and live Chicago Fire '87 co-led by DeFranco, both on Contemporary; Play That Song '94 on Chiaroscuro was a quartet recorded at sea with son Gerry on drums. Gerry's The Thrasher '95 on Qwest was his debut as a leader, the sextet incl. Joe Locke and Ravi Coltrane. |