Baubles, bangles and beads (Deodato) (LP 679)

Deodato  Prelude (CD, CTI, 1973) **** 

Genre: Jazz Fusion

Places I remember: HMV Oxford St.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Also Sprach Zarathustra

Gear costume: September 13

Active compensatory factors: I particularly love the Deodato of the CTI label. 

Driven by the link to the 2001 A Space Odyssey film and some brilliant musicians - this was a huge album for him.

The album features some great jazz musicians - John Tropea (guitar), Ron Carter and Stanley Clarke on bass and the one and only Billy Cobham on drums. 

Combine all that with Deodato's wonderfully lyrical piano playing and it's a great recipe for success.

It doesn't necessarily follow though that the album is going to be brilliant and commercially successful just because of the players involved. You need the chops yes, but you also need the leadership and vision of someone to make it work. Creed Taylor is the producer and he could obviously see the possibilities in Deodato.

Where do they all belong? And that's it for Deodato. Check him out!

Put it on the line (Stanley Clarke) (LP 490 - 491)

Stanley Clarke/ George Duke  The Clarke/ Duke Project II (CD, Epic, 1983) ** 

Stanley Clarke  If This Bass Could Only Talk (CD, CBS, 1988) *** 

Genre: Jazz fusion 

Places I remember: Both from the Lindsay Hope collection

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles/ Gear Costume: Workin' Man (ITBCOT) 

Active compensatory factors: I love George Duke's work with Zappa and the first Project album from 1981 with Stanley Clarke was fun.

But this is dire in comparison. The date gives it away - by 1983 it was all terrible 80's production. But the songs aren't much either. 

Pains me to say, but it's ultimately a waste of their talents.

If This Bass Could Only Talk is much better, and features some jazz superstars like Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, and yes, George Duke on one track, but it's still not up to his seventies output.

The eighties decade was not a kind one to these guys! Actually, was it kind to anyone?

Where do they all belong? That's it for the Stanley Clarke corner of the Fusion Jazz CD section of the collection.

Hot fun (Stanley Clarke) (LP 401 - 405)

Stanley Clarke Stanley Clarke (CD, Epic, 1974) ***
Stanley Clarke Journey To Love (CD, Epic, 1975) ***
Stanley Clarke School Days (CD, Epic, 1976) ****
Stanley Clarke Modern Man (CD, Epic, 1978) ****
Stanley Clarke Clarke/ Duke Project (CD, Epic, 1981) **** 

Genre: Jazz fusion

Places I remember: HMV London

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Modern Man (from Modern Man) 




Gear costume: The Dancer (from School Days); Rock and Roll Jelly (from Modern Man)

Active compensatory factors: Fusion is a genre that is pretty much made for me. There are elements of prog rock, it's jazz, but not jazz, has guitars and guitar wig outs, mainly instrumentals, some show-off-manship and pretension, a lot of noodling...all there in the genre.

Stanley is one of fusion's main heroes - a bass guitarist who creates out there music with some of the best musicians on the planet: Tony Williams (drums); Jan Hammer (keyboards); Chick Corea (piano); George Duke (keyboards); Jeff Beck (guitar); John McLaughlin (guitar); Lenny White (drums). That's only some, and that's only on the first two albums listed above!

Each of these five albums contains some sublime playing -  and each has at least one peak track: Lopsy Lu (Stanley Clarke); Concerto For Jazz Rock Orchestra (Journey To Love); The Dancer and Hot Fun (School Days); Modern Man (Modern Man); Wild Dog (Clarke/Duke Project).

Only down side is his proclivity, from time to time, for solo bass pieces. Youch. Those moments are for the diehard bassists!


Where do they all belong? If you need more - return to Return To Forever.