Stanley Clarke's School Days
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august 2006 issue 285 free jazz now in our 32nd year &blues report www.jazz-blues.com LOOKING BACK: STANLEY CLARKE’S SCHOOL DAYS 30 YEARS LATER LOOKING BACK: STANLEY CLARKE’S Published by Martin Wahl SCHOOL DAYS Communications Editor & Founder Bill Wahl 30 YEARS LATER Layout & Design Bill Wahl Operations Jim Martin Pilar Martin Contributors Michael Braxton, Mark Cole, Brian Gilmore, Steve Homick, Chris Hovan, Nancy Ann Lee, Peanuts, Mark Smith, Duane Verh and Ron Weinstock. Check out our costantly updated website. Now you can search for CD Reviews by artists, Titles, Record Labels, keyword or JBR Writers. 15 years of reviews are up and we’ll be going all the way back to 1974. Address all Correspondence to.... Jazz & Blues Report 19885 Detroit Road # 320 Rocky River, Ohio 44116 Main Office ...... 216.651.0626 Editor's Desk ... 440.331.1930 [email protected] Web .................. www.jazz-blues.com By Brian Gilmore Copyright © 2006 Martin-Wahl Communications Inc. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission hirty years ago, in June for the popularity of the music. from the publisher. All rights Reserved. 1976, as America prepared Notably, Clarke, a native Philadel- Jazz Report was founded in Buffalo New T to celebrate the 200th an- phian, was a key member of the jazz- York in March of 1974 and began in Cleve- niversary of the nation’s indepen- fusion powerhouse quartet, “Return to land in April of 1978. We are subsidized dence, jazz bassist Stanley Clarke Forever,” the band that, more than solely through advertisement and ask that entered the famed Electric Ladyland Miles Davis or Weather Report, took you support our advertisers. a W division of Studios in New York City ready to artin-Wahl fusion to the masses. Clarke was also c o m m u n i c a t i o n s record his fourth album as a leader. classically trained and had earned his Clarke’s work that summer with musical stripes playing with hard an astounding group of musicians boppers such as Horace Silver and Art would ultimately become one of those Blakey. He also had his own recordings as a leader to his credit such as the "Buffalonious" moments that, to borrow the words of jazz critic Nat Hentoff, would reaf- album “Journey to Love” and the well Original mascot from firm jazz as the ‘sound of surprise.’ received single, “Lopsy Lu.” Yet, in the the By the summer of 1976, Stanley summer 1976 Clarke recorded a song called “School Days” and forever Buffalo Jazz Report Clarke was, of course, a star in the days – mid '70s music world. The bass had never re- changed the perception of the bass player in jazz. Created by ally had a star in jazz (Charles Mingus Christine Engla Eber was the only one who came close) “It is beyond a hit record,” Clarke Watch for new t-shirts bearing his image–coming soon! so Clarke’s emergence with his im- admits when he was in Washington peccable credentials was significant D.C. in December 2005 for a weekend PAGE TWO August 2006 • Issue 285 stand at Blues Alley, “it is a bass anthem.” Clarke is stating skills, and his willingness to embrace the sound of the only what many have said over and over since the song’s moment in 1976 – funk. release. Gomez acclimates Clarke’s riffs with his beautiful sonic Ivan Bodley, a friend of Clarke, an accomplished bass- guitar parts that echo seemingly off in the distance but this ist himself, and a writer calls the song “the greatest bass is illusionary. Gomez is there step for step. It is a perfect anthem of all time.” addition. Those over the years who remember Clarke’s bass In the 30 years since the appearance of “School Days,” parts also remember Gomez screaming behind Clarke and on the marvelous album of the same name, Clarke’s fero- keeping the song locked into forward motion. It is probably cious foray into funk has become more and more en- why the song was well respected in the jazz world, and trenched in the folklore of jazz-funk. One of the monumen- also accepted and adored among rock fans as well. tal failures of Ken Burns’ film “Jazz,” is its refusal to hon- Ken Rose, the legendary producer of David Bowie’s estly comment on many of the highly successful jazz ex- “Ziggy Stardust” and countless other classic albums in a cursions into electricity such as “School Days” in a more variety of genres, produced “School Days;” he admits that specific and meaningful way. the sound achieved is intentional. “We always looked at During the weekend of shows Clarke played at Blues making Stanley’s records more along the rock style,” Rose Alley in that December in 2005, the lasting excellence of says by e-mail. “By that I mean we took our time getting “School Days” was evident: the song always received the the sounds just right and there was no aversion to over- loudest and warmest reception from those in attendance dubbing to bring things out.” when Clarke and his trio launched into it. Moments into his Rose adds that the efforts to achieve a special sound now familiar melody and riff, Blues Alley began to buzz for the album created a little friction with drummer Gerry louder, and patrons around the club would whisper or ac- Brown, but nothing major because of the amount of time knowledge the song to their neighbors with just two words: spent obtaining that right sound. “Gerry Brown” Rose says, “School Days.” “...was more used to the typical jazz session where it was “Anyone who seriously wants to learn to play the bass set up and play.” This did not ultimately affect Brown’s has to buy that record and learn to play that song,” Clarke drums; his performance is powerful as well. remarked in 2001 in an interview with Ivan Bodley. Many As for the rock edge that was sought out on “School young bass players probably quit after hearing Clarke un- Days,” it is especially significant in the case of guitarist leash his fury on “School Days;” others found their stride in Ray Gomez...because Gomez almost didn’t make it on the the song’s challenges. record. Clarke envisioned guitarist John McLaughlin, the Clarke recalls composing “School Days” while on tour Mahavishnu Orchestra leader, as part of the record. “I was with “Return to Forever” and as it seemed at the time, in a in the studio waiting for John...but what happened was John lot of respects, it wasn’t a difficult moment for Clarke. “I was late,” Clarke recalls. Ray Gomez, a guitarist that Clarke came up with the lick, pretty fast,” he says. He adds that describes as “confident” and “cocky” seized the moment. the song has a “defiance” to it that still can be heard today. “John ain’t here, I got my guitar.” Clarke remembers Gomez “The way it was mixed, the engineer had no choice but to saying “So we went,” Clarke says. turn it loud,” Clarke says, “it’s just so aggressive.” Clarke’s Gomez as it turns out was the perfect guitarist to drive comments are not the egotistical boasting of a talented Clarke into the heart of his new adventure into jazz-funk. musician either. Some who were there know. Gomez had even gone as far to tell Clarke well before the The quartet that Clarke assembled for the tune, “School studio sessions that “he was the right guy for his next al- Days,” in fact, would be called top notch today by any stan- bum.” dards. The versatile Gerry Brown, who of late has kept Gomez also recalls rehearsing at Studio Instruments time for the soul singer Jeffrey Osborne, was on drums; Rental (SIR) before the date with Clarke, so by the time of David Sancious, who earned critical acclaim playing with the “School Days” record date he was more than ready Bruce Springsteen before the Clarke sessions, was on anyway, despite the fact that he wasn’t the first choice. keyboards, and Ray Gomez of Casablanca, Morroco, was “We rehearsed early in the day in the studio, noon until on electric guitar. evening,” Gomez recalls. The band did two takes. “The “I knew I was in a history making situation,” Gomez second take was the one,” Gomez says, “all live.” It sounds says of the famous session by e-mail, “the fusion greats live. were the follow ups to Cream, Hendrix.” Gomez, who had Clarke recalls two takes as well: “one that appears on played with Lenny White and Narada Michael Walden be- the album” and one other. He adds that he knew the mo- fore the celebrated date with Clarke, doesn’t disappoint ment it was recorded that the band had done something either on “School Days.” His aesthetic rapport with Clarke special, something that would last for a long time. and the others is evident from the beginning. Although many musicians such as Clarke who have Clarke sets the tone with crisp rhythms full of thunder- delved into the electric sound over the years have been ing funk bass licks that Ivan Bodley calls popping “over criticized for the choice, it is hard to be critical of “School chord changes.” Clarke’s licks call forth many of the great Days” without being accused of being pre-disposed to a funk bassists of the day including Larry Graham and George bias against the style. The song simply embraces every Johnson, but Clarke’s work is more expansive and me- necessary element that jazz music traditionally has show- lodic; it reflects his classical music training, improvisational cased (unless you want it to swing).