Legendary
bassist Stanley Clarke considers his upcoming Mack Avenue Records release, The
Stanley Clarke Band's UP, to be the most energetic, rhythmic and upbeat album
that he has ever done -- and with more than 40 solo albums under his belt,
that's saying quite a lot. Clarke's signature bass virtuosity and technical
acumen is present throughout, but the enjoyment he had in making this album is
also apparent. Unlike his predominantly acoustic bass work on the last few
albums, UP is almost equal parts electric and acoustic bass.
"My
aim here was to make a record with my friends. Every single recording session
was nothing but fun," says Clarke. "Surrounding myself with people I
enjoy being with made the sessions effortless. Everyone came prepared and ready
to play. All were great musicians and they came to the studio to give
everything they had."
Much
like his last Grammy® Award-winning album, Stanley Clarke Band, this new
release features the inclusion of former bandmates pianist/keyboardist Ruslan
Sirota and drummer Ronald Bruner, Jr., who toured with him for seven years and
were Clarke's co-Grammy® Award-winners for the Best Contemporary Jazz Album of
2011. Two of Clarke's current touring band members, acoustic pianist Beka
Gochiashvili and drummer Mike Mitchell, are also represented on the album. Both
are quite young, in their teens, and talented way beyond their years.
Among
these other friends Clarke invites to shine on UP are: guitarists Joe Walsh,
Jimmy Herring and Paul Jackson, Jr.; drummers Stewart Copeland, Gerry Brown and
John Robinson; keyboardist Greg Phillinganes; Phil Davis on synthesizer and
keyboards; Chick Corea on acoustic piano; saxophonists Kamasi Washington, Doug
Webb and Dan Higgins; vocalists Jessica Vautor, Natasha Agrama and Patrice
Quinn; trumpeter Gary Grant and trombonist Andy Martin on horns; percussionist
Lenny Castro; Nick Mancini on marimba; and the Harlem String Quartet with
violinists Ilmar Gavilán and Melissa White, Jaime Amador on viola and cellist
Matthew Zalkind.
The
first track on the album, a song with a warm, funky and bluesy feel that
reminds Clarke of his grandfather, is "Pop Virgil," featuring Michael
Jackson's session rhythm section: Robinson, Jackson, Jr. and Phillinganes.
Clarke considers "Last Train To Sanity" one of the best pieces he has
ever written and it is the only track on the album that deals with the music as
a film composition. "I'm so glad that the Harlem String Quartet, who I've
toured with a bit over the last year, was willing to be part of this
recording," says Clarke.
The
title track "UP," is the essence of the album's sensibilities.
"Drummer Stewart Copeland was on my mind with this song," says
Clarke. "His vibe is one of the most upbeat and positive that I know, and
that consciousness carries throughout the song." The bassist also pays
homage to George Duke with "Brazilian Love Affair - Dedicated To George
Duke," one of his favorite compositions. A tremendous arrangement
augmented by robust rhythms and a vigorous samba predominate the song.
As in
previous recordings, Clarke unveils more bass compositions in UP that he has
dubbed "Bass Folk Songs." Clarke says, "They're very specific
compositions. I started writing them when I was much younger and have about 20
now. They are specifically written for a solo bass.""Bass Folk Song
#13: Mingus" is a homage to Charles Mingus done on acoustic bass.
"Bass Folk Song #7: Tradition" evolved from thoughts on musicians
Clarke played with early in his career including Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Joe
Henderson and Stan Getz; ironically it's an Alembic electric tenor bass solo.
And "Bass Folk Song #14: Dance Of The Giant Hummingbird/Bass Song #15:
Eleuthera Island" are two Bass Folk Songs put together for solo acoustic
bass.
The
collaboration is intuitive with former bandmates Sirota and Bruner, Jr. on
"I Have Something To Tell You Tonight," with Washington on sax
creating a dreamy improvisational jam. "Trust - Dedicated To Nana" is
a straight ahead jazz piece dedicated to Clarke's daughter Nana (Natasha). It
arose from a family discussion one evening, and though lyrics would seem
appropriate to convey the conversation, here Clarke captures the feel and
emotion of the exchange instrumentally. Ramping up the album's ambiance again,
Clarke and the musicians have fun with "Gotham City." A fan of
superheroes in films and comics since childhood, this is Clarke's homage to the
genre.
"I
knew the idea of re-recording 'School Days' was potentially dangerous, but just
because a song is good and deemed to be a classic doesn't mean you can't record
it again," Clarke states. The legendary Jimmy Herring does the dynamic
guitar lead on this version and is joined by Gerry Brown, who was the original
"School Days" drummer in 1975.
The
album concludes with "La Canción de Sofia." Written for Clarke's wife
Sofia, who is from Chile, this track is a live performance of an acoustic duet
with Chick Corea recorded in 2013 at the Kitara Hall in Sapporo, Japan.
With
over 40 albums, four-time Grammy® Award-winner Stanley Clarke has attained
"living legend" status. Born in Philadelphia, Clarke has been a
constant force of nature in American music since the early 1970s with the
success of the jazz-fusion group Return To Forever. During his 45+ year career,
he has collaborated with Quincy Jones, Stan Getz, Art Blakey, Paul McCartney,
Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, The
Police, Herbie Hancock and many more. Doubling on acoustic and electric bass
with equal ferocity, Clarke was the first jazz-fusion bassist ever to headline
tours, selling out shows worldwide. Known for his intense dexterity and
consummate musicality, Clarke is a true pioneer in jazz and jazz-fusion. Also
an accomplished film and TV composer of over 65 projects, Clarke's credits
include Boyz N The Hood, the Tina Turner biopic What's Love Got To Do With It,
Romeo Must Die, The Transporter and most recently the 2013 blockbuster Best Man
Holiday. In 2014, Clarke was invited to become a member of the exclusive
Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
His
creativity has been recognized and rewarded in every way imaginable: gold and
platinum records, Grammy® Awards, Emmy® nominations, a BMI Award, and virtually
every reader's and critic's poll in existence. He was Rolling Stone's very
first Jazzman of the Year and bassist winner of Playboy's Music Award for 10
straight years. Clarke was honored with Bass Player Magazine's Lifetime
Achievement Award and is a member of Guitar Player Magazine's "Gallery of
Greats." In 2004 he was featured in Los Angeles Magazine as one of the Top
50 Most Influential People. He was honored with the key to the city of
Philadelphia and put his hands in cement as a 1999 inductee into Hollywood's
"Rock Walk" on Sunset Blvd. In 2011 he was honored with the highly
prestigious Miles Davis Award at the Montreal Jazz Festival for his entire body
of work. Most recently, he won the 2014 DownBeat Magazine's Critic's Poll for
Best Electric Bass Player, following a win in the same category the year
before.
Clarke
believes in giving back to help young musicians hone their skills. He and his
wife Sofia established The Stanley Clarke Foundation 13 years ago as a
charitable organization offering scholarships to talented young musicians each
year.
Upcoming
Stanley Clarke Performances:
September
1 / Detroit Jazz Festival / Detroit, MI
October
10 - 12 / Yoshi's / San Francisco, CA
October
13 / Kuumbwa / Santa Cruz, CA
October
14 / The Pageant / St. Louis, MO
October
16 / Promontory / Chicago, IL
October
17 / Traift Music Hall / Buffalo, NY
October
22 - 24 / Iridium / New York, NY
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