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Stanley Clarke helped redefine what the electric bass could be, first with Return to Forever in the 1970s and then through decades of solo work that kept pushing the instrument into new territory. Message finds him in characteristically restless form, bridging generations by surrounding himself with younger players while drawing on a lifetime of fluency across jazz, funk, and classical traditions.
The Message (available June 29 via Mack Avenue Records) swells with an abundance of strength, soul and astounding musicianship. It's a vision of fusion and funk, breakbeats and bass-interpreted cello suites with a little help from friends like rapper/beatboxer Doug E. Fresh and trumpeter Mark Isham. Backed by a young versatile band and a collection of tunes written in the midst of a tumultuous tour of Europe,
"I'm very excited about our work on this album. I wanted to include some of my band members' contributions and the result is an album that is funky, melodic, musical, contemporary and fresh with a rich multi-genre influence," Clarke commented. "The guys in this band are consummate young musicians with musical spirits that are very old." The line-up he refers to is pianist Beka Gochiashivili, drummer Mike Mitchell and keyboardist Cameron Graves.
The band entered ICP Studios in Belgium and recorded an abundance of material. Clarke returned to his home in Los Angeles with the tapes and began to tinker. "Once I got the raw material, I fleshed it out. My ability is to orchestrate and arrange. I'm very good with taking anything and turning it into something."
Much of the material from their Paris adventure is collected on this album but the affair opens with a homegrown homage to several soulful great friends that Clarke has lost in the last few years including George Duke, Al Jarreau, Tom Petty, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler and Prince. Clarke slaps out a funky riff for "And Ya Know We're Missing You" while renowned beatboxer Doug E. Fresh lays down an intrepid beat. A rare pairing that seems instinctual upon first listen.
The Message is unmistakably a Stanley Clarke record.
Tracklist
1. And Ya Know We're Missing You: Dedicated To Leon Ndugu Chancler, Darryl Brown, Al Jarreau, Tom Petty, Chuck Berry & My Good Friend Larry Coryell (1:58)
2. After the Cosmic Rain / Dance of the Planetary Prince (6:59)
3. The Rugged Truth (3:32)
4. Combat Continuum (5:04)
5. The Message (2:47)
6. Lost In A World (5:31)
7. Alternative Facts (3:46)
8. Bach Cello Suite 1 (Prelude) (2:25)
9. The Legend Of The Abbas And The Sacred Talisman (4:03)
10. Enzo's Theme (3:44)
11. To Be Alive (4:52)
UPC: 673203111622
Label: Mack Avenue Records
Release Date: 6.29.18
Format: CD
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