Stanley Clarke and a 4001 (RTF)

[phlemmy]

With Bill Connors!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lFP-alYNq5I

[bassman2k]

Wow, that was excellent. I absolutely love RTF. I think Stanley is now my favorite bassist. I've been playing jazz fusion on my 4003 for a while now, and I thought I was weird for doing it. Now here's a master in fusion playing a classic Ric! Doesn't get any better than this.

Any idea what amps he used?

[phlemmy]

http://gc.guitarcenter.com/interview/stanleyclarke/

[wints]

Fantastic...

Love SC and this is the early stuff, with the 4000. I play a lot of fusion myself, and the Ric's do work for the technically stuff. Now if we could only get 24 frets....

[phlemmy]

oops, is it a 4000? i had it playing while working and just glimpsed at SC for a moment.

[shamustwin]

Wow, I saw RTF at probably one of their first shows at the Troubador in the '70's. I was seated right at the stage, at Stanley Clake's feet.
I had just bought my first bass, a used 4001. Needless to say watching Mr. Clarke on his Alembic was a humbling experience for this novice bassist. I remember him cracking a smile at me, probably because my mouth was agape.

[ben_brown]

Yes this is very nice indeed.
...again....this was posted about a year ago I think.

[brianeharmonjr]

I just downloaded the whole album. Great stuff. Now I just need to find a physical copy. I was never a huge Stanley Clarke fan, but I love this stuff. All the playing is incredible, but the drumming is what I can't keep from focusing on. I definitely need to hear more of these guys. Can anybody recommend albums for me to check out? "Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy" is the only one I have so far. What else should I check out?

[ben_brown]

Brian...You're talking my language now... Chick Corea and Return To Forever recorded four electric Jazz-Rock albums back in the 70's. The first one being "Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy" in 1973. Lenny White played drums, Stanley Clarke on bass, Bill Connors on guitar and of course Chick Corea on keyboards. The second was "Where Have I Known You Before" in 1974. On this album Chick Corea picked up Al DiMeola for the guitar work. He was fresh out of Berkly at the time and really had some hot licks. The third Jazz-Rock album was called "No Mystery" and was recorded in 1975. Chick Corea kept the same line-up as the previous album. The fourth album recorded in 1976 was called "Romantic Warrior" and as before had the same musicians again including Al DiMeola. There was an album before these four called "Light As A Feather" recorded in 1972 but was more Jazz oriented and wasn't nearly as intense as the others following it. I don't even think there was a guitar player in that one at all. Definitely more of a laid back traditional jazz sound. Chick Corea recorded many, many albums thereafter but none were anything like the four that I mentioned. However in 1986 Chick Corea got back in the electric groove with a group called "THE CHICK COREA ELEKTRIC BAND" which was the first of six albums that are absolutely top notch! The personel has changed a bit but the music is out of this world! More funky perhaps but definitely electric fusion. The next Elektric Band album was called "LIGHT YEARS" and was recorded in 1987. The next was "EYE OF THE BEHOLDER" in 1988. Next there was "INSIDE OUT" in 1990. Then there was "BENEATH THE MASK" in 1991. then "PAINT THE WORLD" in 1993. All six of these albums are absolutely awesome to say the least. Keep in mind that Cick Corea was constantly recording material from the very early 70's(if not sooner) to present day and has different projects going all at the same time. He might release an acoustic piano album, then a jazz quatet release then an electric project. He always has something going! There was I think a Return to Forever greatest hits album too IIRC after the first four were released but I wouldn't bother with that because you want all four complete albums! The was also a "Return To Forever Live" release back in 1978 and that was a four record set. Now...if you're into Bill Connors, he released a few fusion albums himself that were pretty damn good as well. There was "Step It" recorded in 1984. Followed by "Double Up" in 1986. Then there was "Assembler" released in 1987. Then he recorded an album called "Return" in 2004. All four of these albums are very good fusion releases and he performs with a band and I would think you would enjoy them as well as the older Return To Forever material. This is one weird guy and he recorded a bunch of music in the 70's but most was more acoustic material. Weird in an understatement.
Check put this site to see what Chick Corea has been up to. http://www.chickcorea.com/discography.php
Also check out this website as well. If they don't have it, it probably wasn't recorded. It's a very good source for Jazz-Rock/Fusion music. http://www.audiophileimports.com/
...And then there was "The Mahavishnu Orchestra featuring John McLaughlin" back in the 70's but I won't go there. Many great fusion albums from that band! The 70's had so many talented fusion artists. I can't even begin to mention them all. What I used to do back then is when I would go to the store to check out the albums for sale and I didn't know who the artist was....I would just look and see what instruments were being played on it. That usually worked well. Well Brian...I think I've just about covered it. I am a Jazz-Rock/Fusion lover from way back and always will be. I used to play bass in a country band 15 years ago in a huge line dance club. We usually rocked it up quite a bit but when I was driving 50 miles to the gig I would listen to Fusion just so I would be wound up when I got there. OK...I'm done.

Oh yeah I forgot...Two really good 70's Stanley Clarke albums were called "Stanley Clarke" and "Journey To Love" Seeya!

[brianeharmonjr]

Wow, thanks Steve. It looks like I've got some downloading to do. I've just lately been a big traditional Jazz fan, and of course a huge fan of prog-rock, but for some reason I've always kinda skipped over this middle ground. I just recently got into Brand X, and now this, so I've got a lot to learn here, but it sounds like there is a lot of great material. Well, thanks again Steve for the info, and Sean for posting this video.

[jps]

Brand X!!! One of my favorite bands. I saw them twice in the mid to late '70s, and the recent incarnation of them, Tunnels, I have seen several times. Rare Blend opened for them a couple years ago in Baltimore.

[ben_brown]

Yes I have all the Brand X material also. Great band to see live!