Mike Clark - Mike Drop - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

*Mombacho* is Mike's sophomore jazz album. Following closely on the heels of his award-winning debut InchBeginningsInch, *Mombacho* suffers from none of the all-to-common second album gremlins. Mike writes and leads his trio (occasionally augmented by saxophonist Phil Dwyer, guitarist Kevin Breit and strings) with clarity and authority. His native humor, intelligence and spirituality are present in abundance on nine original compositions. Jazz readings of Mrs. Robinson (Simon and Garfunkel), All The Diamonds (Bruce Cockburn) and God Put A Smile On My Face (Berryman, Buckland, Champion and Marten) round out the contents. With the original working title InchRoad TripInch, *Mombacho* takes us on a jazz journey through urban-esk funk, beautiful smooth fusion, sensual tango and neo-standard jazz. From start to end this is an album steeped in melody, rich in texture, and full of energetic grooves. Enjoy! Album Tracks 1. Around the Block 2. Mombacho 3. Beauty 4. Mrs. Robinson 5. Masaya 6. Swankometer 7. Almost Tango 8. Where It Goes 9. Trail Runner 10. God Put a Smile Upon My Face 11. All the Diamonds 12. Red Rocket

The music of Herbie Hancock has affected the lives of generations of jazz performers. Like many of these musicians, it was the opportunity to play with the great pianist/composer that introduced the great drummer Mike Clark to the jazz world at large. To show his appreciation, Clark presents a selection of his favorite Hancock pieces performed with a trio on his new recording, Mike Clark Plays Herbie Hancock.Mike Clark in the late 1960s regularly played post-bop gigs with Woody Shaw and Bobby Hutcherson, but it was the funky organ gigs with his friend, bassist Paul Jackson, that really cemented Clark's standing on the scene.At the time, Hancock's ground-breaking, electric Mwandishi ensemble broke up due to financial constraints. Hancock began to regroup a smaller, funkier ensemble and hired Jackson. Hancock initially had Harvey Mason for the drum chair, but his work constraints wouldn't allow him to join. Jackson recommended Clark for the group and the Headhunters were born. Album Tracks 1. Toys 2. Speak Like a Child 3. Dual Force 4. Dolphin Dance 5. Sorcerer 6. Chan's Song 7. Empty Pockets 8. Actual Proof

One of jazz music's most heralded traditions is breathing new life into older material. Reimagining standards and well-known songs provides impetus and backbone for ensemble connection and creative improvisation. Saxophonist Michael Zilber and drummer Mike Clark utilize their understanding and mastery of the jazz canon and popular songs on their new recording, Standard Deviation, a recording seemingly familiar yet new.Clark has provided pulse to innumerable influential rhythm sections over his long and varied career. The drummer's association with Zilber has blossomed over the last decade, focusing mainly on their love for New York City's hard swinging jazz tradition. Though both originally hail from the West Coast, Clark from the Bay Area and Zilber from Vancouver, Canada, the musicians found their musical home with the driving sounds of New York hard bop via groups like those of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. The musicians are separated by a continent, as Zilber lives in Los Angeles and Clark in New York City. But when they get together, they make their reunions count. The two recorded their first album, Mike Drop (Sunnyside, 2021), after their quartet's first West Coast tour in 2018. In the Fall of 2022, Clark and Zilber performed a very successful concert of new material at the Monterey Jazz Festival, where they were joined by up-and-coming New York bassist Alexander Claffy. Shortly thereafter, Zilber headed to New York City, where he and Clark rehearsed and recorded Zilber's fresh, new arrangements. Recording Standard Deviation with a New York band was important to Zilber and Clark, as they wanted musicians who understood that distinctive approach, namely, to remain loose, swing hard, and be in the moment. For the recording, the duo brought in the aforementioned Claffy along with stalwart pianist Jon Davis, a seasoned veteran of the New York scene who had already