1, 2, To the Bass

Performer: Stanley Clarke (Double Bass)
Artist: Q-Tip; Hubert Laws; Everette Harp; Glenn Lewis; George Duke; Amel Larrieux; Joe Satriani; Paul Jackson, Jr.
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel: Stanley Clarke (vocals, piano, acoustic & electric basses); Glenn Lewis, Amel Larrieux (vocals); Q-Tip (rap vocals); Oprah Winfrey (spoken vocals); Everette Harp (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Doug Webb (saxophone); Michael Hunter (trumpet); Nicholas Lane, Reggie Young (trombone); Hubert Laws (flute); Dr. L. Subramaniam (violin); Bob Leatherman (vibraphone); George Duke (Wurlitzer piano, keyboards); Michael Thompson, Joe Satriani, Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar); Armand Sabal-Lecco, Reggie Hamilton, James Earl (bass); Vinnie Colaiuta, John Robinson, Gerry Brown (drums). Producers include: Stanley Clarke, Q-Tip, Dre, Vidal, Quincey Jones. "Where Is The Love" was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals. On this contemporary R&B/soul jazz recording, his first solo release in a decade, bassist Stanley Clarke has taken in elements of contemporary pop music including hip-hop, urban groove, and world music, in addition to his well-known jazz-leanings as an electric and acoustic player. To give the proceedings a touch of authenticity and spark, Clarke has brought some friends on board including producer Quincy Jones, rapper Q-Tip, guitarist Joe Satriani and--hold onto your hat--Oprah Winfrey. The low-key hip-hop of the title track, featuring Q-Tip, introduces some street cred to the outing, while radio-friendly smooth pop like the cover of the R&B classic "Where Is the Love" keep things firmly in the middle of the road. The Gypsy Kings-ish ballad "Los Callabos" contrasts with the electro-boogie of "Bout the Bass" and the grind-groove of "Hair" (with electric guitar courtesy of Satriani). The album's quiet moments--Clarke's solo bass features, the lyrical, ambient "Peace," and Oprah reading Maya Angelou's poem "I Shall Not Be Moved"--throw a dash of introspection into the mix.

JazzTimes (05/03, p.145) - "...An expansive offering that reflects the many dimensions of the renowned bassist-producer-film composer's artistry..."

Philadelphia-born bassist Stanley Clarke got his start playing with straight-up jazzers (Horace Silver, Joe Henderson), but became known as one of the prime movers in the jazz-rock fusion movement of the 1970s. His virtuosic technique on both the electric and the acoustic bass made him a superstar of the instrument. Clarke skillfully blended rock, jazz, and funk, on solo recordings, as a member of fusion supergroup Return To Forever, and in collaborations with keyboardist George Duke and others. Clarke's distinctive slapping technique has influenced numerous technically stunning players, from Bela Fleck accompanist Victor Wooten to Miles Davis cohort Marcus Miller.

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