Stanley Clarke

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Going to see Stanley Clarke tonight!  I guess it’s part of the Toulon Jazz Festival, free show at the beach.  It is an unexpected treat, just found out about it today when we saw a poster for it.

He was a founding member of Return to Forever and is a living legend in certain jazz circles.  I’m heading home tomorrow so this is a final thing to do, wrapping up a fun week.

Stanley Clarke is a legend and a super nice guy. Last time I saw his band (Yoshis Oakland 3 or 4 years ago) he had an amazing piano player Beka Gochiashvili. Enjoy

That man can play. Have seen RTF and he was amazing to watch

Lucky you! Haven't seen him since the early '80s - what a talent. Have a great show.

"is a living legend in certain jazz ALL circles"

Fixed that for you.

Clarke is one of the greatest to ever play the instrument. Personally I love him so much more when he's playing the acoustic double bass where IMO the depth of his virtuosity really shows, but he owns any bass guitar he puts his hands on.

ANY chance to see Stanley Clarke play bass guitar should never be missed.

BTW, for Bay Area folks, Clarke will be at Yoshi's in Oakland in early October.

GTTS!!!

The October Yoshi’s shows are over Hardly Strictly Bluegrass weekend. Choices...

>>>The October Yoshi’s shows are over Hardly Strictly Bluegrass weekend<<<

Perfect. Just enough time to get out of the park and over to Oakland for one of the late Clarke sets.

We saw him with RTF when they toured with Zappa Plays Zappa. Stanley is a monster stage presence in stature and virtuosity. Have fun!

^^I saw him with RTF on that tour as well. An excellent pairing. I’ve also seen him with both his acoustic & electric bands. Always a great time. I’ve been fortunate to meet him twice & he’s just a really nice guy. Huge hands!

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I’ve seen him with RTF and also in  Keith Richards band The New Barbarians

he did a remake of Chick's No Mystery, from the 3rd RTF album- a few years back-  here's a slightly different live version--- nice:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkXMRSLIMKs

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I’m stuck at JFK with a long layover so here is a pic from last nights show.  I think there was at least a thousand fans in what is normally a parking lot for the beach.  I got there at 10, show was scheduled to start at 9:30 and I could not get much closer than this pic shows.  The sound was pretty good and I heard a mix of old and new material.  I recognized a couple of tunes from School Days right away but not that familiar with the newer stuff.  He killed it on the bass solos and his band rocked.  They looked like they were all having a blast and the crowd loved it.  The night before we saw a killer blood moon, magic in the air.

 

 

 

I saw Stanley Clarke in a trio with McCoy Tyner and Billy Cobham at Yoshi's in Oakland about 15 years ago. A 50 minute set that melted my face. Music at the highest level. Clarke played an acoustic bass that looked bigger than a fat man's bathtub. I drove home in a daze. 

Seen Stanley many times here in the Bay Area.

I personally think he is one of the most talented human beings on the planet.

I have attended the Strawberry music festival for decades and seen dozens, if not hundreds of acts at this fun NorCal celebration of music.
The single best moment I can recall - in terms of displaying emotionally stirring art with incredible skill was a set featuring Bela Fleck with Jean-Luc Ponty and Stanley Clarke back in 2005 - Stanley's double-bass solo - just him onstage alone was among the most masterful, onstage moments I've ever seen an artist perform.  Mindblowing skill, power, delicacy and beauty all combined into one incredible solo.

He didn't show for either gig as an opening/mid-slot act the two times I had plans to see him in the 80s.

Check out some Clark/Duke project, with Stanley Clark and George Duke.

Saw them play as a double bill separately, with a 3rd mini-set of them together, at the old JVC Jazz Festival at the end of June, 89. In Avery Fischer Hall at Lincoln Center. Don't know if that place had ever been that funky before, or since.