Mike Clark Returns with Star-Studded New Album Kuon Ganjo (Time Without Beginning)

Legendary drummer Mike Clark continues his remarkable late-career resurgence with the release of Kuon Ganjo (Time Without Beginning), arriving August 7 on Wide Hive Records. Featuring an all-star ensemble that includes NEA Jazz Master Eddie Henderson on trumpet, tenor saxophonist Craig Handy, pianist Patrice Rushen, and bassist Essiet Okon Essiet, the album showcases Clark’s lifelong mastery of swing while highlighting the adventurous spirit that has defined his career for more than six decades.

Although rooted largely in the straight-ahead jazz tradition, Kuon Ganjo is anything but conventional. Across the album, Clark draws from the many musical influences that have shaped his journey, creating a collection that moves effortlessly between hard-driving grooves, thoughtful explorations, and unexpected turns.

“Playing with this band is a drummer’s dream,” Clark says. “They make it so easy all I have to do is be myself with all my idiosyncrasies. I want to do it my way, and they make that possible.”

That approach is evident throughout the recording. The gritty, blues-infused “Austin City Shuffle” recalls Clark’s formative years sitting in with hard-bop musicians throughout Texas, while spirited interpretations of “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise” and Jan Hammer’s “Lungs” showcase the drummer’s explosive energy and deep jazz roots. Elsewhere, the ensemble takes a more nuanced approach on Herbie Hancock’s whimsical “Toys,” Wayne Shorter’s imaginative “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Eddy and Hyde,” an unrecorded composition co-written by producer Gregory Howe and trumpeter Erik Jekabson.

The surprises continue from the opening track. Clark launches the album with Sonny Rollins’ “East Broadway Rundown,” a composition that balances blues grit with avant-garde edge. Thelonious Monk’s “Monk’s Dream” follows with a standout bass feature from Essiet Okon Essiet, whose playful and inventive performance becomes one of the album’s highlights. The title track, inspired by the Buddhist concept of “time without beginning,” takes listeners on a free-form journey that unexpectedly transforms into hard-swinging jazz before dissolving back into abstraction.

The strength of Kuon Ganjo lies not only in Clark’s vision but also in the contributions of his collaborators. Henderson brings lyrical sophistication to the rough textures of “Austin City Shuffle,” while Handy adds distinctive character and edge to “Toys.” Rushen’s harmonic creativity enriches every track she touches, particularly on “East Broadway Rundown,” where her solo provides one of the album’s most memorable moments. Together, the ensemble creates a recording that feels both spontaneous and deeply connected.

For Clark, the album represents another chapter in a career that has spanned nearly 80 years of life and more than six decades behind the drum kit. Born in Sacramento, California, in 1946, he was introduced to music by his father George Clark, a railroad switchman, union representative, and accomplished jazz drummer. By the age of four, Clark was already playing jazz and blues rhythms, often accompanying his father to performances and sitting in with musicians throughout Texas, New Orleans, and beyond.

After relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area, Clark quickly became a fixture on the local jazz scene. Alongside bassist Paul Jackson, he formed a rhythm section that powered countless performances at San Francisco’s famed Both/And Club. Early recording opportunities with pianist Vince Guaraldi helped establish his reputation, but it was his groundbreaking work in Oakland’s funk and R&B scene that would eventually lead him to Herbie Hancock’s influential Headhunters. As a member of that pioneering ensemble, Clark helped redefine modern rhythm while gaining worldwide recognition.

Despite his success in funk and fusion, jazz remained at the core of Clark’s musical identity. Over the decades he has collaborated with an extraordinary list of artists including Tony Bennett, Eddie Henderson, Dave Liebman, Chet Baker, Andrew Hill, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Christian McBride, Babatunde Olatunji, and many others. Since releasing his debut album as a leader, Give the Drummer Some, in 1989, Clark has built an impressive catalog while earning a reputation as one of the most respected drummers in jazz.

Known equally for his storytelling as for his musicianship, Clark is also preparing for the publication of his autobiography, God Make Me Funky, co-written with acclaimed jazz biographer Bill Milkowski and scheduled for release in 2027. Like his music, the book promises an unfiltered look at a life spent pushing boundaries and embracing creativity.

With Kuon Ganjo (Time Without Beginning), Clark demonstrates that his artistic curiosity remains as vibrant as ever. Blending tradition, experimentation, and world-class musicianship, the album stands as another compelling entry in the catalog of a drummer who continues to evolve while staying true to his roots.

Fans can catch Clark live at the San Jose Jazz Festival on August 8, where he will perform alongside Eddie Henderson, Craig Handy, pianist Dave Kikoski, and bassist Essiet Okon Essiet, bringing the spirit of this dynamic new project to the stage.

François Bourassa Quartet Celebrates 30 Years with Cross-Canada Anniversary Tour and New Music

 

The François Bourassa Quartet is marking a major milestone in 2026 with a coast-to-coast Canadian tour celebrating the ensemble’s 30th anniversary. Led by acclaimed pianist, composer, and JUNO Award winner François Bourassa, the tour will bring one of Canada’s most respected jazz groups to some of the nation’s premier festivals and concert stages while introducing new music created specifically for the occasion.

Beginning June 19 at the Medicine Hat Jazz Festival and concluding August 9 at the North Hatley Jazz Festival in Quebec, the anniversary tour highlights three decades of artistic collaboration between Bourassa and his longtime bandmates: André Leroux on saxophones and flute, Guy Boisvert on upright bass, and Guillaume Pilote on drums. Together, they have built a reputation for creating adventurous, emotionally engaging music that seamlessly blends jazz, contemporary classical influences, and improvisation.

Bourassa has long been recognized as one of Canada’s leading jazz artists. A native of Montreal, he first gained national attention after winning the Montreal International Jazz Festival’s New Talent Prize in 1985. Over the following decades, he established an international profile through performances across Europe, Asia, and North America, sharing stages with jazz legends including Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Wayne Shorter, and Dave Brubeck. In 2007, he received the prestigious Oscar Peterson Award from the Montreal International Jazz Festival, recognizing his significant contributions to Canadian jazz. His quartet’s 2001 live recording, captured at Toronto’s Top O’ The Senator, earned a JUNO Award and further solidified the group’s standing among the country’s elite jazz ensembles.

The quartet’s most recent release, Swirl (2023), showcased the chemistry and spontaneity that have defined the ensemble throughout its history. Recorded live at Studio Piccolo in Montreal, the album received widespread international praise for its musical interplay and creative depth. Critics highlighted the group’s rare ability to function as a true collective, with performances that balance technical virtuosity and genuine emotional connection.

That sense of unity has become a hallmark of the François Bourassa Quartet. While Bourassa’s compositions are celebrated for their complexity, rich harmonies, and evolving structures, the ensemble’s greatest strength lies in its ability to bring those ideas to life in a way that feels fresh and immediate on stage. Audiences can expect a program that reflects the group’s extensive catalog while also introducing new material created in conjunction with the anniversary tour.

A major highlight of the summer schedule will be the quartet’s appearances at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Bourassa will perform with the Christine Jensen Sextet on July 1 as part of the FIJM’s “Modes of Coltrane” celebration honoring the centenary of John Coltrane’s birth. Additional Montreal performances include a quartet appearance at Dièse Onze on July 3 and a special trio performance at Messe Jazz at the Gésu on July 5.

Supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the 30th anniversary tour is both a celebration of the quartet’s remarkable history and a testament to its continuing artistic evolution. Three decades after its founding, the François Bourassa Quartet remains one of the most compelling voices in Canadian jazz, demonstrating that longevity and innovation can thrive side by side.

The 2026 tour includes performances in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Quebec, with additional dates in France scheduled for November. For jazz fans across Canada, this anniversary tour offers a rare opportunity to experience a group whose music continues to evolve while remaining grounded in the trust, creativity, and collaboration that have sustained it for 30 years.

Four Tops Live! Returns in Expanded 60th Anniversary Edition with Unreleased Performances and Restored Motown Magic

 

Motown fans have something special to look forward to this summer as UMe and Elemental Music prepare to release a newly remixed and expanded 60th Anniversary Edition of Four Tops Live! on July 24, 2026. Available on deluxe vinyl and digital platforms, the reissue breathes new life into one of Motown’s most celebrated live recordings while offering fans a deeper look into the legendary group's electrifying stage presence.

Originally recorded during two performances at Detroit’s iconic Roostertail nightclub in August and September 1966, Four Tops Live! captured the quartet at the height of their popularity. The expanded edition transforms the original album into a four-sided vinyl collection, adding ten previously unreleased tracks from the concerts. Alongside timeless Four Tops classics such as “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” “It’s the Same Old Song,” “Ask the Lonely,” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” listeners will hear the group’s interpretations of contemporary favorites including “Michelle,” “The Girl from Ipanema,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” The collection also includes a spirited performance of The Supremes’ chart-topping hit “You Can’t Hurry Love.”

The project was produced by Motown archivist and UMe Vice President of A&R Harry Weinger, with extensive restoration work handled by Drew Schultz, former drummer and music director for the Four Tops and current curator at Detroit’s Motown Museum. Working from the original master tapes, Schultz remixed and remastered the recordings, removing the overdubbed applause that appeared on the original release and restoring the authentic audience reactions from inside the Roostertail. The expanded edition also reinstates stage banter from lead singer Levi Stubbs and introductions from legendary Detroit radio personality Scott Regen, who served as emcee during the performances.

The deluxe gatefold package includes Regen’s original liner notes, newly written commentary, and producer notes that provide additional historical context. As an added bonus, the set closes with “You Name It,” a previously unreleased instrumental performance featuring Earl Van Dyke and the musicians who would later become known worldwide as The Funk Brothers.

The release also serves as a reminder of Motown’s remarkable impact beyond the recording studio. During the 1960s, live albums became a milestone for the label’s biggest stars, with artists including The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, The Marvelettes, and The Supremes all receiving concert releases. Four Tops Live! stands apart, however, thanks to its connection to “Motown Monday,” a popular live concert series broadcast from the Roostertail and promoted by WKNR radio. The Four Tops were the inaugural headliners for the series, making the album an important document of both Motown and Detroit music history.

Equally remarkable is the group's longevity. Founding members Levi Stubbs, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, and Lawrence Payton first came together in 1953, years before Motown Records was established. The lineup remained unchanged for more than four decades, a rarity in popular music. Their consistency helped build one of the most enduring catalogs in soul music history and cemented their place among Motown’s greatest acts.

In a fitting tribute to the album’s legacy, the current incarnation of the Four Tops will celebrate the release with a July 24 performance at the Roostertail, the very venue where these historic recordings were made sixty years ago. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, the expanded edition of Four Tops Live! offers an unforgettable snapshot of a group whose energy, talent, and timeless songs continue to resonate across generations.