Stafford picked up his first trumpet at the age of thirteen, and even though he was drawn to jazz, initially studied classical music. While pursuing a music education degree at the University of Maryland, Stafford played with the school's jazz band. It was during this time that he began to immerse himself in jazz, listening to everything that he could get his hands on. He cites as one of his most profound musical influences Clifford Brown's rendition of Cherokee.
In 1988, Stafford had the good fortune to meet and receive advice from Wynton Marsalis who suggested that Stafford study with Dr. William Fielder at Rutgers University. During his time at Rutgers, Stafford was invited to join Bobby Watson's group, Horizon. Over the next five years, Stafford was able to balance his offstage education with the incredible knowledge and experience he gained from performing alongside Watson, co-leader Victor Lewis, and Shirley Scott. Stafford credits this time with teaching him to be an effective arranger, a composer, and a bandleader, all things that Bobby Watson himself learned from his time with the late Art Blakey while performing with the Jazz Messengers. Stafford's time with Horizon led to his joining McCoy Tyner's Latin All-Star Band which featured some of the best Latin jazz players, including trombonist Steve Turre, flutist Dave Valentin and percussionist Jerry Gonzalez.
Since the mid-1990's Stafford has performed with groups such as Benny Golson's Sextet, McCoy Tyner's Sextet, the Kenny Barron Sextet, the Frank Wess Quintet, the Jimmy Heath Big Band, and the Jon Faddis Orchestra. Currently he is a member of the Grammy-nominated Vanguard Jazz Orchestra which was established by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis and has been playing at the Village Vanguard for over 33 years. Between 2006 and 2007 Stafford played an integral part on several albums including Diana Krall's Grammy nominated From this Moment On (2006) for which Stafford joined with the Hamilton-Clayton Jazz Orchestra. In celebration of Jimmy Heath's 80th birthday, Stafford recorded with the Jimmy Heath Big Band for the album Turn Up the Heath (2006). A regular member of drummer Matt Wilson's group "Arts and Crafts," Stafford is featured on the album Scenic Route (2007). As a member of drummer Alvin Queen's band, "Alvin Queen and the Organics," Stafford is heard on the album I Ain't Lookin' at You (2006).
He has also been an integral part of bands led by such venerable artists as Cedar Walton, Sadao Watanabe, the Clayton Brothers, Herbie Mann, and Matt Wilson. He has appeared on television (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and You Bet Your Life with Bill Cosby) and can be heard on the soundtrack for the feature film, A Bronx Tale. He has also performed as a guest artist with the Billy Taylor Trio on National Public Radio's Billy Taylor's Jazz at the Kennedy Center.
Stafford has recorded four albums as a leader with his debut album in 1995 entitled Time to Let Go (Candid). In 1997, he followed this album with the critically acclaimed Centripedal Force (Candid). His third album as a leader was the popular Fields of Gold (Nagel-Heyer) featuring the talents of Bill Cunliffe, Kiyoshi Kitagawa, Antonio Hart, and Rodney Green. His latest release is the enthusiastically received New Beginnings (MaxJazz 2003) and features Mulgrew Miller, Derrick Hodge, Dana Hall, Steve Wilson, Dick Oatts, Harry Allen, and Jesse Davis. Stafford's latest release which features his working band is entitled Taking Chances (MaxJazz 2007) and has been called his best album yet. As a sideman Stafford has been heard on over 40 albums.
An educator as well as a performer, Stafford currently holds the positions of Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at Temple University in Philadelphia and is a clinician for the prestigious Vail Foundation in Colorado and Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Program. He has also served as a member of the faculty for the Juilliard Institute for Jazz Studies in New York.
Stafford was born in Miami and raised in Chicago and Silver Spring, Maryland. He received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Maryland in 1988 and a Masters of Music from Rutgers University in 1993.
That's All
Terell Stafford Lyrics
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And the promise to be near each time you call,
And the only heart I own is yours and yours alone, that's all, that's all.
I can only give you country walks in springtime,
And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall,
And a love whose burning light to warm the winter night, that's all, that's all.
There are those I am sure who have told you,
They will give you the world for a toy.
If you're wond'ring what I'm asking in return, dear,
You'll be glad to know that my demands are small.
Say it's me that you'll adore for now and ever more, that's all, that's all.
In Terell Stafford's song "That's All," the singer is expressing their love and devotion to someone. They acknowledge that they cannot offer material possessions or worldly riches, but instead offer a love that will last forever. The promise of being there whenever their loved one calls, a heartfelt commitment to them alone. The singer then goes on to describe small, yet significant gestures they can offer, such as walks in the countryside during the spring and holding hands during the fall. They promise a love that will shine bright and warm even during the coldest winter nights.
The singer recognizes that there may be others who promise their loved one the world, but they ask for very little in return. All they want is to have their loved one in their arms and a love that will never diminish with time. At the end of the song, the singer asks for one thing, the assurance that their loved one will adore them now and forevermore.
Overall, "That's All" is a song that emphasizes the importance of love and commitment over material possessions. The singer recognizes their limitations but pledges to give all they can to their loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
I can only give you love that lasts forever,
I have nothing but my love to give, which will last infinitely and eternally.
And the promise to be near each time you call,
I will always be there for you whenever you need me, whenever you reach out to me.
And the only heart I own is yours and yours alone, that's all, that's all.
My entire heart and soul belongs to you and no one else; nothing else matters to me.
I can only give you country walks in springtime,
I can offer you simple pleasures and moments of beauty, like wandering through a springtime countryside.
And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall,
In the harder times, when things start to fade and falter, I will be there to offer you comfort and support.
And a love whose burning light to warm the winter night, that's all, that's all.
I can provide you with a love that will continue to burn brightly through the toughest times and warm even the coldest nights.
There are those I am sure who have told you,
Others have likely promised you grandiose and extravagant things.
They will give you the world for a toy.
These promises are likely unrealistic, more akin to mere trinkets than anything substantial.
All I ask for these arms to enfold you, and a love, time can never destroy.
All I desire is to hold you in my arms and provide you with an enduring, timeless love that will never falter or fade.
If you're wond'ring what I'm asking in return, dear,
If you're curious about what I require in exchange for these things,
You'll be glad to know that my demands are small.
Know that my requests are modest and few.
Say it's me that you'll adore for now and ever more, that's all, that's all.
All I ask is that you cherish and love me, now and forever, and nothing else. That's all, that's all.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBIN SPIELBERG, BOB HAYMES, ALAN BRANDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind