Stanley Clarke

Latest about Stanley Clarke

Darryl Jenifer performs with Bad Brains on stage at the Growlers 6 festival at the LA Waterfront on October 29, 2017 in San Pedro, California.
Why Bad Brains icon Darryl Jenifer traded punk for instrumental jazz – without changing his bass

By Nick Wells Published

The Bad Brains bassist discusses his new jazz album and why decades with one instrument taught him that great tone starts in your fingertips

Bassists
Victor Wooten of The Wooten Brothers performs at Blue Note on May 11, 2024 in Milan, Italy
How Victor Wooten got his hands on his biggest hero’s bass guitar

By Phil Weller Published

Wooten idolized the bass hero, so knew he had to get involved when he started selling off his gear

Bassists
CIRCA 1970: Photo of Stanley Clarke Photo by Tom Copi/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
How a pre-fame Stanley Clarke helped define an Aretha Franklin classic

By Chris Jisi Published

Clarke's early session career offered tantalizing glimpses of his technical prowess and innovations, and hints of how he would transform the low-end landscape with Return To Forever and his own solo albums

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Bassists
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND - AUGUST 03: Stanley Clarke of Stanley Clarke N 4Ever performs during the 2024 Newport Jazz Festival at Fort Adams State Park on August 03, 2024 in Newport, Rhode Island.
After 50 years at the low-end, Stanley Clarke decided to part ways with his astonishing bass collection

By Nick Wells Published

The bass virtuoso recounts his bass gear past and present, from his trademark Alembic to the bass equivalent of the Fender Stratocaster

Bassists
Portrait of Danish musician Ida Nielsen. Mark King, lead singer and bassist of the band Level 42. Photo of Victor WOOTEN. American Jazz composer and bassist Marcus Miller
The 20 greatest slap bass songs of all time

By Nick Wells Published

These masterful slap basslines chart the evolution of the quintessential bass technique, from Larry Graham to today's YouTube heroes

Music Releases
Stanley Clarke performs onstage at the 36th Anniversary Playboy Jazz Festival
When Stanley Clarke met Paul McCartney: “Paul asked me to show him how to slap!”

By Nick Wells Published

Stanley Clarke made a key assist on Paul McCartney's early-80s albums Tug of War and Pipes of Peace

Bassists
Guitarist Jeff Beck (L) and bassist Tal Wilkenfeld perform at the Grammy Foundation's "Starry Night" Gala honoring Sir George Martin on July 12, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Tal Wilkenfeld on Jeff Beck: “We’ve lost our favorite guitarist, and one of the most intelligent, intuitive people I’ve ever met”

By Nick Wells Published

Tal Wilkenfeld, Stanley Clarke, Paul McCartney, Bootsy Collins, Flea, Duff McKagan and many more pay tribute to guitarist Jeff Beck

Guitarists
Stanley Clarke with his 2023 4Ever Band
"Get someone young and help them": Stanley Clarke confirms new touring line-up and the importance of mentoring

By Nick Wells Published

Inspired by his mentoring by the jazz greats, Stanley Clarke announces his 2023 4EVER tour across Europe and the US his hopes for his new band

Concert, Gigs & Tours
Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten perform on stage on the second day of the North Sea Jazz Festival on July 11, 2009 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Victor Wooten on his S.M.V supergroup with Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller: “It was like Michael Jordan and LeBron James asking you to be on their basketball team!”

By Nick Wells Published

Bass guitar hero Victor Wooten looks back on his mind-blowing bass battles with Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller

Bassists
Jazz bassist Stanley Clarke performs with The New Barbarians at The Omni Coliseum on May 10, 1979 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Why Stanley Clarke’s School Days remains an iconic moment in bass playing history

By Nick Wells Published

School yourself on the player David Ellefson dubbed “the fastest ‘lead bass guitarist’ I had ever seen”

Bassists
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