Featuring: Karen Briggs, Brian Bromberg, Gerry Brown, Bunny Bruner Ndugu Chancler, Stewart Copeland, Sheila E, Bela Fleck, Flea, Rodney Franklin, Rayford Griffin, Stewart Hamm, Paul Jackson Jr., Jimmy Johnson, Benny Maupin, Marcus Miller, Patrice Rushen, Billy Sheehan, Wayman Tiscale, Lenny White, Stevie Wonder & others
Studio: Heads Up HUDV 7118 [March 28 release date]
Video: 4:3 color
Audio: DD 5.1, DD stereo
Extras: Stanley Clarke Profile, Interviews with guest artists, web connections
Length: 90 minutes
Rating: ****
Stanley Clarke has been one of the most important performers on string bass in a wide spectrum of music genres ever since the early 1970s. He was a cofounder of Return to Forever, has composed scores for film and TV, and also acted as producer for many albums. A long list of Grammys, Emmys, and gold and platinum records are on his resume. The Stanley Clarke Scholarship boosts young musicians – both bassist and others – from all over the world, and one a year a fund-raising concert is mounted to raise money for the scholarship. Clarke himself said the scholarship concert in 2003 was really something special: “…all these great people showed up, and just got up onstage and played with no real rehearsal to speak of. They just got up there, and this energy and groove just sort of happened.” Part of the list of people is above.
The venue for the concert was Musicians Institute in Hollywood, and the music ranged from straight ahead jazz to burning rock fusion and even 22-piece string arrangements. The variety of music and virtuosity of the performers are amazing. Among the highlights for me were when Bela Fleck and jazz violinist Karen Briggs joined Clarke for an original work Clarke had dedicated to John Coltrane. Then the former drummer for The Police took over for a tune by Fleck written for his bluegrass combo. There are several compositions from Clarke’s film and TV scores, with the large string section, and a hot medley of numbers referred to as “The Big Jam,” which features Stevie Wonder, Briggs, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea, and percussionist Sheila E. The whole concert is brought to a thundering conclusion with ten different bassists – each having a turn on a drawn-out version of Clarke’s tune ‘School Days.” The concert provides a fine opportunity to see and hear the many different approaches and styles to bass playing among the various performers.
In between selections there is some commentary from Clarke and others about the value of education for aspiring young players, but it’s short and sweet and quickly the exciting music is back underway. The Dolby 5.1 surround is excellent; with all the bassists this is one music DVD which will give your sub or subs as much of a workout as a typical action movie soundtrack. Clarke will be releasing a yet-to-be-titled CD for Heads Up in June, and this DVD is the precursor to that release.
– John Henry
