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Stanley on the passing of Jeff Beck

What shocking news on the passing of Jeff Beck.

There’s some artists that have such a tremendous impact on the planet that they seem so invincible. Jeff had the best sense of humor. Some might’ve thought it to be a bit strange. I liked it. This guy really lived.. he was not a person that was dead while he was alive if you know what I mean.

I enjoyed every moment on the stage with him and all the times we recorded together.
Jeff had so much fire and patience at the same time in his playing along with an unmatched uniqueness.
I have so many great memories with him.
I remember once staying at his place outside of London in Tunbridge Wells along with Mike Garson…we were rehearsing for something and Jeff had his guitars laid out all over the place in every nook and cranny. We had a great time. We went from playing music to messing around with what I believe was Jeff’s greatest love…. his cars. He had the most amazing cars, American cars.
He loved his roadsters.
He had this beautiful brown roadster I believe it had red fire decals on the side. What a fine looking car….
I can only wish that he’s in that traveling to his next stop….
Safe travels, my friend!!!

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Stanley’s thoughts on the passing of friend & bandmate Chick Corea

I want to thank all my friends who reached out with condolences who knew that Chick was like a brother to me. We shared many many stages, recording studios, and our passion for Jazz and “Mama Corea’s Beef Cutlets”…..but what really created the bond between us was our similar beliefs in the power of the individual to create the most beautiful and inspiring art, “the great healer,” for people. We sure had fun sprinkling that magic all over the world!!I will miss doing that with him. He was the best all-around musician that I’ve ever stood shoulder to shoulder with. I will miss standing next to him on the stage as much as many of you who have had the pleasure to stand with him. And to all his fans, his impact in musical art was of such a great magnitude that it will be impossible to lose sight of him. His spirit is always with us.I love you Chick and I know you’re doing just fine… Travel well my friend and very very well done…

Stanley Clarke's Bass Nation
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Stanley Clarke’s Bass Nation – The New Monthly YouTube Series

Stanley has developed an 8-episode monthly web series entitled Stanley Clarke’s Bass Nation. The first episode of Bass Nation will debut November 16th on Stanley’s YouTube channel. The series shares Stanley’s wealth of experience garnered over his 50-year career as a musician, band member, soloist, arranger, composer, and bandleader.

The episodes centered around the dynamics of the music industry, recording and performing, and includes Stanley’s conversations with noted musicians, gear reviews, playthroughs and performances. He also has a slew of interesting personal anecdotes, which he imparts regarding his experiences. Bass Nation’s is also relavent to musicians of other instruments as well as those who are not musicians, but just love music.

“We are giving life lessons for musicians through the eyes of bass players. I’ve played with many musicians and these lessons are a common denominators running through all master musicians,” Stanley said. “I believe that the platform will be equally interesting to fans and non-musicians. Musician life lessons can also be applied to the
lives of all.”

Guests in the series include Verdine White, Marcus Miller, Steven “Thundercat” Brunner, Carlitos de Puerto, Jr., Jack Cassady, Salar Nader, Niki West, Brady Watts, Sekou Bunch, Karl Vincent, Francesca Alinovi, Hadrien Feraud, Aaron Cruz II, Les July, Travis Rodgers, and Clayton Cameron, among others.

Check out these trailers from the series:

Don’t forget to subscribe to Stanley’s YouTube channel and smash the notification bell to be alerted when new episodes and additional segments are released.

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New Music: The Message by The Stanley Clarke Band

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.

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Stanley and Bunny Brunel Team Up For ‘Bass Ball’

Bass Ball  is the new album produced by Bunny Brunel and Stanley Clarke; and has been five years in the making. Bass Ball features Bunny and Stanley, as well as Billy Sheehan, Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Armand Sabal-Lecco (who also composed “Stand Out” on the album), and more.

The album features many great players from all over the world, particularly from Bunny’s home country of France, including trombonist Alex Perdigon, trumpeter Eric Giausserand, bass players Tony Bonfils, Dominique Bertram, Fifi Chayeb among others.

“Bass Ball” features a Who’s Who of drummers with Dennis Chambers, John Wackerman, Simon Phillips, Steve Ferrone, Johan Franzon, Ike Wiley, Clayton Cameron, and Bryan Cabrera. On Percussion are Chris Moraga and Monette Moreno. Playing keyboards on a few of the tunes is Nick Smith and Larry Dunn (Earth, Wind & Fire).

Bass players are truly the focal point of this album, on which, Stanley plays Alembic basses, piccolo bass, and acoustic bass. Bunny Brunel plays the ESP fretted bass, fretless bass, and piccolo bass.

“I like the fact that Bass Ball  gives people an opportunity to hear some of the best bass players they’ve never heard before”, Stanley said of the production.

Check out more the album here.

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New Barbarians Book/CD Released January 2017

Get the behind-the-music story of the New Barbarians, the all-star band founded by the Rolling Stones lead guitarist Ron Wood, which featured Stanley on bass.

The New Barbarians: Outlaws, Gunslingers and Guitars tells the untold story of this legendary band, which also included Stones guitarist Keith Richards, former Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan, Stones confederate and saxophonist Bobby Keys, and drummer Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste from the Meters, through never-before-seen photography and in-depth interviews. The book offers an intimate look at the brief history of the band formed in 1979, which built a cult following in record time.

Featuring photos of the band by Bruce Silberman, who accompanied the New Barbarians on their U.S. tour, the book is an essential contribution to rock and roll history. Includes a CD with 10 previously unreleased tracks from the band’s tour.

Check out a review of the book and learn more here.