Mike Clark (drummer) explained

Mike Clark
Background:non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth Name:Michael Jeffrey Clark
Birth Date:October 3, 1946
Birth Place:Sacramento, California, U.S.
Genre:Jazz
Occupation:Musician
Instrument:Drums
Years Active:1970s–present
Label:Ropeadope Records, Talking House Records, Sony, Random Acts, P-Vine, Owl Studios
Associated Acts:Herbie Hancock, The Headhunters, Eddie Henderson, Brand X

Michael Jeffrey Clark (born October 3, 1946) is an American drummer. He gained worldwide recognition as one of America's foremost jazz and funk drummers while playing with Herbie Hancock in the early 1970s. His incisive playing on Hancock's song "Actual Proof" off of the 1974 album Thrust garnered him an international cult following and influenced generations of drummers throughout the world.[1] [2]

Upbringing

Clark was born in Sacramento, California, United States. He traveled around the country with his father, a drummer himself and a union man for the railroad. His dad had a great appreciation for jazz and blues music, and Mike absorbed the music of America while riding the rails. He credits this exposure as forming the foundation for his ability to synthesize many different regional styles. From age 4, he was a prodigy, sitting in - and getting "house"- with bands in Texas and New Orleans. By the time he reached his early twenties he was known as one of the founders of the distinctive East Bay Sound coming out of Oakland, California.[3]

Career

Mike has performed with such well-known jazz greats as Herbie Hancock,[4] [5] [6] Christian McBride, Chet Baker, John Scofield, Nicholas Payton, Tony Bennett, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Eddie Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Vince Guaraldi, Woody Shaw, Donald Harrison, Albert King, Larry Coryell, Michael Wolff, Wallace Roney, Billy Childs, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Chris Potter, Bobby McFerrin, Nat Adderley, Oscar Brown Jr., and Gil Evans and his orchestra.

His album Blueprints of Jazz, Vol. 1 (Talking House Records, 2008) was widely praised by critics and in 2010 was named by DownBeat magazine as one of the best albums of the decade.[7] The album is part of the Blueprints of Jazz series conceived, produced and recorded by Talking House Productions[8] with an aim to expose the histories and current work of important but often lesser-known jazz players who had contributed to the sounds of jazz legends from the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Production and recording of the albums was helmed by Talking House producers Marc Weibel and Stephen Smith.[9] [10] [11]

His latest recordings include "Retro Report" with Delbert Bump on Rope-a-Dope label,[12] "Life Cycle" with Mark Sherman, Chase Baird, and Felix Pastorius, also on Rope-a-Dope;[13] Eddie Henderson's "Be Cool" on the Smoke label;[14] Charnett Moffett's "Music from Our Soul" on Motima;[15] and "Indigo Blue: Live at the Iridium"[16] with Christian McBride, Donald Harrison, Rob Dixon, Randy Brecker, and Antonio Farao on Highnote.[17]

Equipment

Clark endorses DW drums, Istanbul Agop cymbals, Evans drumheads, and Innovative Percussion drumsticks. He has played Remo drumheads, Vic Firth drumsticks, Zildjian cymbals, and Paiste cymbals in the past.

Discography

YearArtistTitleLabel
1973 (rel. 2023)Vince Guaraldi

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving: Original Soundtrack Recording

Lee Mendelson Film Productions
1974Herbie HancockThrustColumbia
1974Herbie HancockDeath WishColumbia
1974Betty DavisThey Say I'm DifferentJust Sunshine
1975Herbie HancockMan-ChildColumbia
1975Herbie HancockFloodCBS/Sony [Japan]
1975The HeadhuntersSurvival of the FittestArista
1976Eddie HendersonHeritageBlue Note
1976Alphonso JohnsonYesterday's DreamsEpic
1977The HeadhuntersStraight From the GateArista
1979Brand XProductPassport
1980Brand XDo They Hurt?Passport
1981Jack Walrath Group (with Ricky Ford)Revenge of the Fat PeopleStash
1983Jack Walrath QuintetJack Walrath Quintet at Umbria Jazz Festival, Vol. 1Red Records
1983Jack Walrath QuintetJack Walrath Quintet at Umbria Jazz Festival, Vol. 2 Red Records
1984Percy Jones EnsemblePropeller MusicHot Wire [Germany]
1989Mike Clark Sextet (with Ricky Ford, Jack Walrath)Give the Drummer SomeStash
1989Jack Wilkins TrioCall Him RecklessMusicMasters/BMG
1991Jack WilkinsAlien ArmyMusicMasters/BMG
1992Mike Clark & Paul Jackson (with Kenny Garrett)The Funk Stops HereTiptoe/Enja
1992Suzanne PittsonBlues and the Abstract TruthVineland
1993Mike Clark GroupJim Payne's New York Funk! Vol. 1Gramavision
1994Marc PuricelliMelting PointMusicMasters/BMG
1995Mike ClarkUbiquity
1995Marc Puricelli ShadeMusicMasters/BMG
1996Dave EllisRavenMonarch
1997Henry "The Skipper" Franklin (with Phil Vieux, Marc Seales)The HunterResurgent Music
1998The HeadhuntersReturn of the Headhunters!Hancock/Verve Forecast
1999John Tank QuartetCanadian SunsetTCB Records
1999Mike Clark (with Billy Childs, Chris Potter)SummertimeJazzKey Music
2000Mike ClarkActual ProofPlatform
2001Mike Clark / Paul Jackson / Marc WagnonConjunctionBuckyball
2003The HeadhuntersEvolution RevolutionBasin Street
2003The Mackrosoft1st Mack to the MoonMackrosoft
2003The MackrosoftLife Imitates CloudsMackrosoft
2003George Pajon, Jr.Fried PlantainsKufala Recordings
2004Michael Wolff & Impure ThoughtsDangerous VisionArtemis
2004Fun HouseSavant
2005Rebecca Barry and the Headunters Rebecca Barry and the HeaduntersRebecca Barry Productions
2005The MackrosoftAntonio's GiraffeMackrosoft
2008Mike ClarkBlueprints of Jazz, Vol. 1Talking House Records
2006Michael WolffLove and DestructionWrong Records
2007Tony AdamoStraight Up DealUrbanZone
2007Jerry StuckerIt's All a GrooveUrbanZone
2008The HeadhuntersOn Top: Live in EuropeBHM Productions
2009Mike Clark's Prescription Renewal (with Fred Wesley, Skerik, Robert Walter, Charlie Hunter)Live at the Fox TheatreP-Vine [Japan]
2010Mike ClarkCarnival of SoulOwl Studios
2011The HeadhuntersPlatinumOwl Studios
2013Michael Wolff / Mike ClarkWolff & Clark ExpeditionRandom Act
2013Jeff BerlinLow StandardsRandom Act
2013Tony AdamoMiles of BluRandom Act
2013Chester "CT" ThompsonMixologyDoodlin' Records
2015Michael Wolff / Mike ClarkWolff & Clark Expedition 2Random Act
2015Mike Clark / Gaetano Letizia / Wilbur Krebs Froggy & the ToadsLetizia Music
2015Tony Adamo & the New York CrewTony Adamo & the New York CrewUrbanZone
2015Jerry WeldonOn the Move!Doodlin' Records
2016Dylan Taylor (with Larry Coryell) One in Mind Blujazz Productions
2017Charnett MoffettMusic From Our SoulMotéma Music
2017Mike Clark & Delbert Bump (with Elias Lucero)Retro ReportRopeadope
2018Eddie Henderson (with Donald Harrison, Kenny Barron)Be CoolSmoke Sessions
2018Venture (Mike Clark, Mark Sherman, Chase Baird, Felix Pastorius)Life CycleRopeadope
2018Tony AdamoWas Out Jazz Zone MadRopeadope
2018Rob Dixon Trio (with Charlie Hunter)Coast to CrossroadsRob Dixon Productions
2019Rinsse with Mike ClarkRinsse with Mike ClarkKhyron Label
2019Mike Clark (with Christian McBride, Donald Harrison, Randy Brecker)Indigo Blue: Live at the IridiumRopeadope
2019DSC (Leon Lee Dorsey, Greg Skaff, Mike Clark)Monk TimeJazz Avenue 1
2020Eddie Henderson (with Donald Harrison, Kenny Barron)Shuffle and DealSmoke Sessions
2020Wolff / Clark / Dorsey (Michael Wolff, Mike Clark, Leon Lee Dorsey)Play Sgt. PepperJazz Avenue 1
2021Michael Wolff (with Mark Isham, Mike Clark, John B. Williams)Live @ VitellosSunnyside
2021Leon Lee Dorsey (with Harold Mabern, Mike Clark)Thank You Mr. MabernJazz Avenue 1
2021Mike Clark & Michael ZilberMike DropSunnyside
2021Leon Lee Dorsey (with Manuel Valera, Mike Clark)Freedom Jazz DanceJazz Avenue 1
2022Mike Clark & Leon Lee Dorsey (with Mike LeDonne)Blues on TopJazz Avenue 1
2022The HeadhuntersSpeakers in the HouseRopeadope
2023Leon Lee Dorsey (with Russell Malone, Mike Clark)Cantaloupe IslandJazz Avenue 1
2023Mike Clark (with Jon Davis, Leon Lee Dorsey)Plays Herbie HancockSunnyside
2023Mike Clark (with Eddie Henderson, Skerik, Wayne Horvitz, Henry Franklin, Bill Summers)Kosen RufuWide Hive
2024Wolff / Clark / Dorsey (Michael Wolff, Mike Clark, Leon Lee Dorsey)A Letter to Bill EvansJazz Avenue 1

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mike Clark Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More . 2022-05-11 . AllMusic . en.
  2. Web site: Mike Clark: The Double-Edged Sword Called Funk - JazzTimes . 2018-03-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180826121431/https://jazztimes.com/departments/overdue-ovation/mike-clark-funk/ . 2018-08-26 . dead .
  3. Web site: Mike Clark finally back in Bay Area for series of shows. Mercurynews.com. 2 February 2017 . January 19, 2020.
  4. News: Harrington . Richard . 2 March 2001 . Mike Clark Actual Proof . . 11 May 2022.
  5. Web site: Bio . Drummermikeclark.info. January 19, 2020.
  6. Web site: Soergel . Brian . Mike Clark: Actual Proof . 2022-05-11 . JazzTimes . en-US.
  7. Web site: DownBeat Digital Edition January 2010 . 2022-08-10 . www.downbeat.com.
  8. Web site: 2009-02-06 . Talking House Productions Inspired Music Creation and Development . 2022-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090206091040/http://www.thpro.com/ . 2009-02-06 .
  9. Web site: 2008-12-20 . Mike Clark, Billy Harper, Donald Bailey: Blueprints of Jazz . 2022-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081220103209/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=31051 . 2008-12-20 .
  10. Web site: Milkowski . Bill . Mike Clark: Blueprints of Jazz, Vol. 1 . 2022-08-10 . JazzTimes . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2009-08-31 . www.jazzweekly.com Reviews . 2022-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090831232952/http://www.jazzweekly.com:80/reviews/MClark_Blueprints.htm . 2009-08-31 .
  12. Web site: Mike Clark & Delbert Bump — ropeadope . 2018-03-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180310200739/https://ropeadope.com/mike-clark-delbert-bump/ . 2018-03-10 . dead .
  13. Web site: Venture: Life Cycle . Ropeadope . October 31, 2023.
  14. Web site: Trumpeter Eddie Henderson to Release New Album "Be Cool" on May 4th, 2018 . News.theUrbanMusicScene.com. 20 February 2018 . January 19, 2020.
  15. Web site: Charnett Moffett - Music From Our Soul (2017, CD) . Discogs.com. January 19, 2020.
  16. http://www.nycjazzrecord.com/issues/tnycjr201910.pdf Mike Clark, Indigo Blue (Live at Iridium)
  17. Web site: Drummer Mike Clark to Record Live Album - JazzTimes . 2018-03-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180310141416/https://jazztimes.com/news/drummer-mike-clark-to-record-live-album/ . 2018-03-10 . dead .