Best of 2015: Three men of music

BRAD TERRY

This is day eight of 12 days of my best work of 2015. Here’s three videos and photos of three musicians/entertainers/storytellers I admire. Brad Terry is a supreme jazzman, living in Bath. He turned 78 this year and wonders what the future holds.

Read the excellent story by Darren Fishell HERE.

11/24/14 -- Brad Terry, 77, and Peter Herman, 25, play a jazz house concert and dinner party in Arrowsic. On June 9, they'll play his last scheduled concert together Theater Project in Brunswick.  Troy R. Bennett | BDN

11/24/14 — Brad Terry, 77, and Peter Herman, 25, play a jazz house concert and dinner party in Arrowsic. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

11/24/14 -- Brad Terry, 77, flashes a characteristic smile while listening to applause at a house concert in Arrowsic. ìI try to hear something in my head and play it accurately once and then move on,î Terry said. ìIf you practice licks or scales and patterns, then when you're improvising then you start using those patterns and you stop thinking.î Troy R. Bennett | BDN

11/24/14 — Brad Terry, 77, flashes a characteristic smile while listening to applause at a house concert in Arrowsic. “I try to hear something in my head and play it accurately once and then move on,”Terry said. “If you practice licks or scales and patterns, then when you’re improvising then you start using those patterns and you stop thinking.” Troy R. Bennett | BDN

11/24/14 -- Maine jazz legend Brad Terry, 77, laughs with 25-year-old guitarist Peter Herman at a house concert in Arrowsic. ìIím hoping that he will realize how good he is,î Terry said of Herman, who plans to move to Oregon later this month. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

11/24/14 — Maine jazz legend Brad Terry, 77, laughs with 25-year-old guitarist Peter Herman at a house concert in Arrowsic. ìIím hoping that he will realize how good he is,” Terry said of Herman.” Troy R. Bennett | BDN

1/19/15  -- Maine jazz great Brad Terry, 77, waves to the crowd as he leaves the stage at a concert in Brunswick. Terry has shared the stage with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Lenny Breau and Buddy Tate but thinks it may be time to quit, while still at the top of his jazz game. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

1/19/15 — Maine jazz great Brad Terry, 77, waves to the crowd as he leaves the stage at a concert in Brunswick. Terry has shared the stage with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Lenny Breau and Buddy Tate but thinks it may be time to quit, while still at the top of his jazz game. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

LEROY TROY

Leroy Troy is a man I’ve been aware of for several years. I was glad to get to meet him at the Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival in September. He’s a one-of-a-kind banjo player and entertainer. His instrument-twirling antics sometimes overshadow his playing skills. Folks at the late night show, myself included, couldn’t get enough.

Find the whole story HERE.

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09/06/15 — Banjoist and songster Leroy Troy performs with the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band at the Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival in Brunswick. Troy, from Goodlettsville, Tennessee, is known for his vaudeville-tinged old time banjo playing and acrobatics. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

 

09/06/15 -- Leroy Troy, of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, performs at the Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival in Brunswick. Troy is known for his old time banjo styles inspired by Uncle Dave Macon, one of the first stars of the Grand Ole Opry.  Troy R. Bennett | BDN

09/06/15 — Leroy Troy, of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, performs at the Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival in Brunswick. Troy is known for his old time banjo styles inspired by Uncle Dave Macon, one of the first stars of the Grand Ole Opry. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

09/06/15 -- Banjoist and songster Leroy Troy performs with the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band at the Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival in Brunswick. Troy, from Goodlettsville, Tennessee, is known for his vaudeville-tinged old time banjo playing and acrobatics. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

09/06/15 — Banjoist and songster Leroy Troy performs with the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band at the Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival in Brunswick. Troy, from Goodlettsville, Tennessee, is known for his vaudeville-tinged old time banjo playing and acrobatics. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

KENDALL MORSE

Kendall Morse lost his voice to cancer a decade ago. Fortunately for us, he never lost his wit or his love of a good story. I’m not sure why it took me so long to go see him. He’s a real Maine inspiration.

Read the rest of the story HERE.

09/14/15 -- Kendall Morse, 81, plays the banjo in his Scarborough living room. His new book of Downeast stories "Father Fell Down the Well" was 30 years in the making. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

09/14/15 — Kendall Morse, 81, plays the banjo in his Scarborough living room. His new book of Downeast stories “Father Fell Down the Well” was 30 years in the making. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

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09/14/15 — Kendall Morse, 81, plays the banjo in his Scarborough living room. His new book of Downeast stories “Father Fell Down the Well” was 30 years in the making. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

 

Troy R. Bennett

About Troy R. Bennett

Troy R. Bennett is a Buxton native and longtime Portland resident whose photojournalism has appeared in media outlets all over the world.