Stanley
Clarke is a living legend. He has compiled a resume that includes an
impressive list of gold and platinum records. He is not only popular
but widely respected in the jazz world as the bassist par excellence.
After three decades of awards and accolades, Clarke still insists that
education is his highest calling. Since the late 1990's his annual
Stanley Clarke Scholarship has given a boost to numerous young
musicians from all parts of the world. The scholarship is marked by an
annual concert that continues to draw a lineup of high-profile
musicians every year.
The
third annual Stanley Clarke Scholarship Concert, recorded at Musicians
Institute in Hollywood, CA, in October 2002, is presented by Heads Up
International on DVD, scheduled to release Tuesday, March 27, 2007.
Guest musicians are Stevie Wonder, Wallace Roney, Bela Fleck, Sheila
E., Stewart Copeland (Police), Flea (Red Hot Chilly Peppers), Wayman
Tisdale, Marcus Miller and more.
"We
had a great chemistry at the Scholarship concert in 2003," says
Clarke. "The thing I really liked about that concert - aside from
raising the money for the scholarship - was that all these great
people showed up, and just got up onstage and played with no real
rehearsal to speak of. They just got up there, and this energy and
groove just sort of happened."
The
DVD is divided in 3 parts: Full performance of the concert, interviews
and bonus features.
The
concert starts with The Floor.
On this intro Stanley Clarke plays the acoustic bass supported by his
orchestra. While he is masterly performing the slap technique on his
upright bass snippets of the upcoming musicians and their highlights
are shown in a stroboscopic mode.
In the
beginning of Wild Dog Stanley
Clarke is introducing his live companion Gerry Brown. Gerry was the
first drummer Stanley ever heard and he was deeply impressed by his
artistry. Wild Dog was originally recorded for the Clarke/Duke
project, Vol. 1 (1981, CBS). This album was a great commercial
chart-topping success, while the jazz purists were disappointed that
Clarke and George Duke didn't do everything within their musical
ability. Jazz fans will be certainly reconciled by Clarke's
performance on this concert. Clarke brilliantly showcases his slap
bass mastership.
A
further high-performance bass masterpiece is Goodbye Pork
Pie Hat by Charles Mingus. Stanley
Clarke has recorded this tune for his highly-acclaimed album If
This Bass Could Only Talk (1988, CBS). A wide set of horns is accompanying
Clarke's performance: Glenn Berger (sax), Bob Summers (trumpet), Mike
McGuffey (trumpet), Doug Webb (sax) and Reggie Young (trombone). On
the original recording Wayne Shorter played the sax.
Also a
milestone of jazz is Song To John (dedicated to John
Coltrane). Al Di Meola, Jean-Luc Ponty and Stanley Clarke
joined together on the legendary album Rite Of Strings (1995,
Capitol). Can the musical prowess of such a dream team ever be
attainable? Yes. Stanley Clarke works that musical miracle a second
time with Bela Fleck on banjo and Karen Briggs on violin. Three music
giants show that breathtaking rapidness is a prove for musical genius.
Stewart
Copeland (member of the re-united group Police) settles in behind the
kit on The Lochs of Dread.
This tune was written by Bela Fleck for the album The
Telluride Sessions (1989, MCA). Fleck has founded the bluegrass
supergroup Strength
in Numbers which only released this album. A vibrant folk song
with much depth.
The
following three
compositions Stanley Clarke has written as composer of movie scores:
Frequent Flyer from the movie Passenger
57, Anna Mae from the
1993 Tina Turner biopic What's Love Got To Do With It? and the
theme from Boyz 'N the Hood.
Those who are interested in Stanley Clarke's work as composer of
popular movie scores I recommend the album At The Movies (1995,
Sony).
Big Jam is
an energetic piece of music especially exposing Karen Briggs, the
female Paganini, Flea aka Michael Balzary, best known as a member of
the Red Hot Chilly Peppers, a monster rock bassist, and Sheila
E., one of the hottest percussionists on earth.
Peter
Chatman aka John Len Chatman better known as Memphis Slim wrote the
Blues standard Every Day I Have The Blues.
Who can better sing that song than Stevie Wonder? But Steve is also a
jazz wonder of the keys. A pleasant surprise.
School Days is
Stanley Clarke's landmark hit (1976, Epic) influencing a whole
generation of bassplayers. Stanley bass party is joined by no less
than 10 bass players: Flea, Amand Sabal-Lecco,
Bunny Brunel, Alex Al, Billy Sheehan,
Stewart Hamm, Jimmy Johnson, Wayman Tisdale, Brian Bromberg and
finally Marcus Miller. My personal bass player favorite is Marcus
Miller who follows on Stanley's path as a genius slap bassist.
This
DVD is a piece of gold. It's not only pure entertainement in the best
sense but also a music monument. Thanks to Stanley Clarke to videotape
this music event giving us the opportunity to be witness of such a
musical highlight.
