“I've spent a huge part of these last 60 years performing," Clarke states. “That is why it means so much to me to celebrate this birthday onstage with those fans, friends and artists, who have given so much love throughout the years. To have some of my musical peers in LA and New York join me each night, both old and young, is the icing on the cake!"
In addition to the surprise birthday performers, Clarke's co-Grammy winners for 2011's Best Contemporary Jazz Album, Ruslan Sirota and Ronald Bruner, Jr., will be joining him onstage each night, as will Charles Altura, Davey Nathan and a horn section. All participated in some way on the Grammy winning album, ,em>The Stanley Clarke Band, http://stanleyclarke.com.
Clarke and band will be celebrating at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, May 12-14. They will be performing two shows a night at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. Catalina Jazz Club is at 6725 W. Sunset Blvd., http://www.catalinajazzclub.com/. Tickets: Fri $30-$35; Sat & Sun—$40-$45.
In New York he will be celebrating at the legendary Blue Note May 24 -29. The band will be performing two shows a night at 8:00 and 10:30 p.m. The Blue Note is located at 131 W. 3rd St in Manhattan, http://www.bluenote.net/newyork/. Tickets: Bar: $30; Table: $40.
So far this has been a great year for Clarke. He launched the Roxboro Entertainment Group label (http://roxboroentertainment.com), featuring debut albums from four artists: guitarist Lloyd Gregory; multi-instrumentalist Kennard Ramsey; keyboardist Sunnie Paxson; and Ruslan Sirota, pianist, arranger and keyboardist on The Stanley Clarke Band. He also had the opportunity to award two $12,000 scholarships and other awards to talented high school music seniors through his Stanley Clarke Foundation, http://stanleyclarke.org. Next month on June 7 a new Return To Forever double-CD entitled ,em>Forever with Stanley, Chick Corea, Lenny White and friends will be released by Concord Music Group.
“Sixty is a great age to reach," Clarke summarizes. “You realize that you've seen so much and yet have so much more to see. I've got my health, my family and my craft, which I enjoy as much as ever and I'm still ever-honing my bass chops. What can beat that?!"
