Jazz Trio, Santa Barbara, USA

6 -16 July 2000

American Jazz Trio:
Peter Clark - piano, guitar and vocals
Jeff Elliot - trumpet, keyboards and vocals
Steve Stockmal -drums and vocals

China guest performer
Fan Shengqi, the most famous saxophone player in China

Peter S. Clark’s career as an entertainer, recording artist and television personality began over 40 years ago. Born in England, he moved with his family to Australia, where, at age 10, he began six years of study in classical piano. At age 16, he moved to Sidney to begin a career as a commercial artist. However, a successful appearance on “Australia’s amateur Hour” at age 17 proved to be the turning point, and he became a professional musician.

He began playing with jazz and pop groups in Sydney and later moved to the Gold Coast, where he became nationally known. At this time, he also began to make guest television appearances. An engagement at the “Embers” in Melbourne followed, where he opened for top jazz artists Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine, Oscar Peterson and others. Returning to Sydney, he took over the big band at “Andre’s” working with Shirley Bassey, Billy Daniels, Dorothy Dandridge and others.

He left Australia for California in 1963. There he formed a pop/jazz group and began appearing in the Los Angeles area. During this time his songs were recorded by such artists as Jerry Butler, Don Ho, Eartha Kitt, Jack Jones and others. In 1974, Peter formed a new group “Aries Rising” featuring vocalist Randy Crawford. In 1991, Peter joined “Monday Madness” a jazz orchestra led by Dr. Chuck Wood at Santa Barbara City College, playing jazz festivals and concerts in California, and accompanying artists such as Stan Getz, Frankie Kaine and George Burns. During this period his CD “Santa Barbara” and ”the Last Live Band” was recorded.