Su Terry (aka “Sweet” Su Terry) has been hailed as a “Superwoman of Jazz” (Hartford Courant), “Simply extraordinary!” (Die Wahrheit, Berlin) and a “forward voice in modern music” (Saxophone Journal). She’s also renowned as a philosopher and author who writes regularly on musical and artistic topics.
Ms. Terry, known as an early protégée of legend Jackie McLean, has performed and recorded with a long list of jazz VIPs, including Charli Persip, Clifford Jordan, Walter Bishop, Jr., Jaki Byard, Dr. Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, Rachel Z, Al Jarreau, Melba Liston, Chaka Khan, George Duke, Barry Harris, Phil Woods, Hilton Ruiz, Irene Reid, Dr. John, Teri Thornton, Mike Longo, Howard Johnson, Clarice Assad, Art Blakey, Carmen McRae, Jon Faddis, Lew Tabackin, Lew Soloff, Luiz Simas, Ray Barretto, Michael Jefry Stevens, Tim Price, and Peggy Stern.
She has performed as a jazz soloist with symphony orchestras conducted by Marin Alsop, Coleridge Taylor Perkinson, Gene Bozzi, Michael Meissner, Augusto Carrión, and Skitch Henderson.
International jazz festival appearances include Montreux, Nice, Pori, Northsea, Montreal, Quito, Trave, Ottawa, Seville, Ibiza and more. She has played at clubs throughout North and South America, Europe, and Japan. In the States she’s performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, and has toured for the U.S. Dept. of State. Ms. Terry’s discography contains over 75 recordings as both a leader and featured soloist.
Ms. Terry received the Hartt School’s first degree ever awarded in jazz performance, and in 2001 was named Alumna of the Year. Passionate about passing on her knowledge to students and colleagues, she conducts frequent masterclasses and workshops. She founded the Cuenca Jazz Academy and is on the faculty of Taller Encuentro in Quito.
Ms. Terry is the author of Practice Like The Pros and three other instructional books. She is also the author of three non-fiction books; her latest is Music and the 7 Hermetic Principles, as well as Inside the Mind of a Musician and For The Curious. An illustrated short novel is titled I Was a Jazz Musician for the FBI.
Her citations include Reed All About It by Bob Bernotas; Madame Jazz by Leslie Gourse; Experiencing Jazz by Michael Stephans; Have Horn, Will Travel by Courtney Nero; Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD; and All Music Guide to Jazz.
She publishes weekly articles and podcasts on Substack, and her recordings can be found on Bandcamp.
Su Terry is a Yamaha Saxophone Artist and plays Jody Jazz mouthpieces and ligatures and Légère reeds. She is a longtime practitioner of the martial art of Taijiquan and holds nine USKSF championship tournament gold medals.