Stanley Clarke

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Stanley Clarke (born June 30, 1951 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) before setting on bass firsthe played accordion and violin. In high he played in R&B and rock bands. After moving to New York, he immediately started to play with famous bandleaders such as: Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Pharaoh Saunders, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, and with pianist Chick Corea.
In 1972 Stanley teamed up with Chick Corea, Al Di Meola and lenny White and formed rock-fusion quartet Return to Forever. Clarke turned the electric bass and became one of most influential bassist on jazz scene.
From his 1976 album School Days and starting with his own funk group George Duke (the Clarke/Duke Project) Clarke moved beyond the jazz world into commercial music.
In 2005 Clarke toured with banjo player Béla Fleck and violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. The U.S. and European tour was nominated for a 2006 Jammy Award in the category of "Tour of the Year."
In 2006 Clarke joined old friend George Duke for a 40-city tour of festivals and performing arts centers.
During the summer and fall of 2007 he toured with Al DiMeola and Jean-Luc Ponty, continuing 1995 collaboration with Ponty and Meola on the acoustic The Rite of Strings.
In 2008 he reunited with CHick Corea's Return to Forever for a second time, for an acclaimed tour that produced a live album and DVD.

Artist website: www.stanleyclarke.com

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