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Stanley Clarke: Live at the Greek

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s

Artist: Stanley Clarke
Title: Live at the Greek
Released: 1986.09.19
Label: Epic Records
Time: 71:54
Producer(s): Stanley Clarke
Appears with: Al Di Meola, Jean-Luc Ponty
Category: Jazz
Rating: ********** (10/10)
Media type: CD
Purchase date:  1999.09.12
Price in €: 10,99
Web address: www.stanleyclarke.com

 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Minute by Minute (L.Abrams) - 3:25
[2] Stratus (B.Cobham) - 9:42
[3] Buenos Aires (Najee/M.Pleasure) - 5:12
[4] All Blues (M.Davis) - 14:02
[5] Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Ch.Mingus) - 10:06
[6] Her Favorite Song (L.Carlton) - 7:42
[7] School Days (S.Clarke) - 21:33

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


STANLEY CLARKE - Electric & Acoustic Bass, Liner Notes
LARRY CARLTON - Acoustic & Electric Guitar
NAJEE - Synthesizer, Flute, Soprano Tenor & Alto Saxophone, Tabla, WX7 Wind Controller
BILLY COBHAM - Percussion, Drums
DERON JOHNSON - Keyboards

STEVE SYKES - Engineer
STEPHEN WALKER - Art Direction
A.A. GLENN - Photography

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s

1994 CD Sony 476602
1994 CS Sony 57506
1994 CD Epic 57506



More than any other genre, jazz seems best suited for the live environment. An artist can improvise in the studio, certainly, but in concert a musician can ignore time limits and stretch creative possibilities. This is especially true of all-star collaborations; they can seem contrived or forced, but when chemistry exists between the players, the result is jazz in its purest, most exciting form. Such is the case on this disc, which features five contemporary giants: Clarke, Larry Carlton, Najee, Deron Johnson, and Billy Cobham. Seventy minutes for seven songs allows the players to interact and solo at length, stretching originals and Miles and Mingus covers to their limit. While each member is a monster improvisor, all base their musings on a definite wave of melodic brilliance. Najee is the real surprise here, as Clarke says in his liner notes. While the others are respected as top fusion cats, the saxman has always faced criticism for the commercialism of his albums; here, Najee proves he can blow with the best of them, getting the energy flowing on tracks like his own "Buenos Aires." Other highlights include the light intro "Minute By Minute," which L.C. popularized as an instrumental; Cobham's explosive "Stratus"; Carlton's simmering "Her Favorite Song"; and the final piece, an increasingly frenetic, 22-minute explosion of Clarke's classic "School Days."

Jonathan Widran - All-MUsic Guide



Bassist Stanley Clarke heads a quintet consisting of guitarist Larry Carlton, saxophonist Najee, keyboardist Deron Johnson and drummer Billy Cobham on this rock-oriented live set. There are some worthwhile solos with Najee being in fine form (his flute on "All Blues" and Ernie Watts-influenced tenor are enjoyable) and Larry Carlton's passionate solos keep the music from getting too mundane. Their version of "School Days" is way too long and the music does get a bit bombastic at times but listeners with an open mind towards fusion will want to acquire this all-star CD.

Scott Yanow, All-Music Guide



Live ist Stanley Clarke einfach am besten. Der Bassist läßt seine E-Baß-Gitarre und seinen elektrifizierten Kontrabaß so vehement tosen, daß sie sofort die Gehörgänge besetzen. Dabei hat das Baß-Genie mit Schlagzeuger Billy Cobham, dem Ex-Crusaders-Gitarristen Larry Carlton, Saxophonist Nejee und Keyboarder Deron Johnson seine erstklassige Band um sich geschart. Beim All Blues, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, einer 21minütigen School Days-Orgie und vier weiteren Nummern zeigen sich die fünf Musiker von ihrer besten Seite.

W. Stiefele in Audio 9/94



Der Mann aus Philadelphia zählt zu den hellsten Sternen am E-Bassisten-Himmel. Mit Chick Corea gründete Stanley Clarke die berühmten Return To Forever, auch solistisch war er sehr erfolgreich - siehe das Album "Shool Days", dessen Titelsong seither sein Markenzeichen ist. Er tourte mit Gott und der Welt, um sich Mitte der 80er Jahre einer Karriere als Produzent und Arrangeur zuzuwenden. Doch jetzt meldet sich der 43jährige mit einem kraftvollen Statement zurück. "Live At The Greek" knüpft direkt dort an, wo die alten Erfolge aufhörten. Schon die ersten 30 Sekunden zeigen es: Das ist Jazzrock vom Allerfeinsten. Gemeinsam mit seinem alten Drummer-Freund Billy Cobham läßt Clarke keinen Zweifel: Mit ihm und der Musik der 70er Jahre muß man wieder rechnen. Larry Carlton steuert quicklebendige Gitarrenläufe bei, Deron Johnson paßt sich mit seinen Keyboards perfekt ein, und Studio-Pustefix Najee hat umjubelte Auftritte. Als nach drei Titeln die Stimmung im Greek Theatre auf dem Höhepunkt ist, gibt es eine Überraschung: Mit rundem Ton horcht Clarke in Miles Davis' "All Blues" hinein. Und weil es gerade so gut paßt, schiebt er gleich Charles Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" - eine Herausforderung für jeden Bassisten - hinterher. Krönendes Finale ist natürlich "School Days", wo alle Musiker noch einmal zu Hochform auflaufen. Diese CD muß man laut hören, dann ist die Freude besonders groß.

© Stereoplay



More than any other genre, jazz seems best suited for the live environment. An artist can improvise in the studio, certainly, but only in a concert setting can a musician ignore time limits and stretch as creatively as possible. Imagine the possibilities, then, when all-stars get together. Sometimes these meetings seem contrived or forced, but when chemistry exists between the players, the result is jazz in its purest, most exciting form. Such is the case on this disc, which features five definite contemporary giants--Clarke, Larry Carlton, Najee, Deron Johnson and Billy Cobham. Seventy minutes for seven songs allows these players to interact and solo at length, stretching originals and Miles and Mingus covers to their limit, in ways no fan of any of these five has ever heard before. But the real secret to the success of this unrestrained project is that while each member is a monster improvisor, all base their musings on a definite wave of melodic brilliance. Najee is the real surprise here, as Clarke says in his liner notes. While the others have achieved great critical respect as top fusion cats, the saxman has always faced criticism for albums which are so strictly commercial and don't display enough artistic value. But here, Najee proves he can blow with the best of them, and he gets the energy flowing on tracks like his own "Buenos Aires". Other highlights are the light intro piece "Minute By Minute, " which L.C. has popularized as an instrumental; Cobham's explosive "Stratus"; Carlton's simmering "Her Favorite Song"; and the final piece, a twisting and increasingly frenetic, 22-minute explosion of Clarke's classic "School Days". I attended the concert which is recorded here, and I have to say that the lengthy stretches between melodic patches was slightly more inviting in the live setting. But it's still an exciting disc, the next best thing to being there for fans of any of these artists. If you're looking for something light and simple, "Live" may not be the ticket; but anyone who appreciates the art form at its best will find innumerable pleasures.

Jonathan Widran, All-Music Guide
  

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