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Beka Gochiashvili: Getting To Know The Band

Name: Beka Gochiashvili

Age: 17 years old

Birthplace: Republic of Georgia

Instrument: Piano

Education: Juilliard

What brings you to the states?

“To make my living in music.”

When did you start playing with Stanley?

“My first gig with Stanley was at the Blue Note for a week with Lenny White in 2012. I was sixteen.”

How has your experience been playing with Stanley and Mike Mitchell?

It’s a great experience to be with Stanley. It’s a great experience to hang with the legends like Stanley and Lenny White. I’m excited to be working with Mike at the beginning of his career because he’s already a great drummer and is only going to get better. We’re both getting great experience with Stanley. Stanley is following a jazz tradition to help out young great musicians and for that I am very grateful.

What do you like about playing with Stanley?

He’s Stanley Clarke! I don’t feel that there is an age difference, I love his openness, I love his sense of humor. He jokes like he plays! It’s almost the same level. He’s a great person. I love him so much as a person and a musician. I love and respect everyone Stanley is surrounded by.

What’s one of your favorite songs?

I love Brazilian Love Affair by George Duke. It’s a huge responsibility for me to play that song because I’m filling in his spot! So every single note, I dedicate to him when I’m playing that song.

Anything else you would like to say to the fans?

My every note is dedicated to Georgian people, for my country. They’re my pride, I’m proud to be Georgian. I want to thank these people for supporting me and supporting each other.

 

(Check out Beka’s self titled album available now!)

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Stanley Clarke ACME Studio Pen

In a collaboration with ACME Studios, Stanley created a design for his very own pen. The top half of this sleek black pen has a gorgeous illustration of the headstock of his famous Alembic Electric Bass. When you flip the pen over, contrasting the electric bass, is the head of an acoustic bass. If you didn’t know, although Stanley’s career is most well known for playing the electric bass in ways unheard of, he was classically trained his whole life playing the upright acoustic bass. This pen captures Stanley’s musicality perfectly. Check out Stanley’s video talking about the pen!

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Stanley Plays on Morning Phase

Beck recently released his twelfth album titled Morning Phase which features Stanley on many of the tracks. Stanley has known Beck for many years and stated “Yea he’s really talented that guy. I think that he’s always been on the cutting edge of whatever he’s doing and that’s what I’ve always liked about him.” To read more about the album click here to read what The LA Times had to say.