New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Special EFX) - JAZZTIMES Magazine, JAZZIZ Magazine and ALL ABOUT JAZZ-NY have weighed in with rave reviews for legendary drummer Mike Clark's Owl Studios debut, 'Carnival of Soul'. JazzTimes' Bill Milkowski described it as 'emotionally charged...very satisfying.' Jazziz's Ed Kopp added: 'His masterful drum work should advance Clark's reputation as an all-around rhythm ace.' Read the full reviews, below.
Clark has confirmed plans for a tour of Russia in October, to promote cultural diplomacy and to introduce audiences in Moscow, Siberia, St. Petersburg and elsewhere to his acclaimed music. Clark's Russia tour, sponsored by the U.S. State Department, will consist of the Mike Clark Organ Trio featuring Rob Dixon on tenor saxophone and Jerry Z on organ. Oct 1 - Sochi; Oct 2- Novorossiysk; Oct 3 - Krasnodar; Oct 5 - Spaso House; Oct 6-13 (Jazz Province Festival); Oct 14 - The Moscow House of Music; Oct 16 - Khantymansiysk; Oct 17 - Surgut; Oct 19- Tumen; Oct 22- Novosibirsk; Oct 24- St Petersburg.
Owl Studios is an award-winning, independent record label, with an artist roster that includes a Grammy-nominated artist, two Independent Music Award winners, an American Pianists Association Jazz Fellowship recipient, and a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Performer Award recipient. In the short time since its inception, Owl Studios has become a well-respected, artist-friendly record label in the genres of Jazz, R&B, Neo Soul, Jazz Fusion and Jam Band. Learn more about Owl Studios, here: https://www.owlstudios.com/
JAZZTIMES MAGAZINE
By Bill Milkowski 10/10 issue
https://jazztimes.com/articles/26504-carnival-of-soul-mike-clark
The drumming great's debut for Owl Studios is a paean to the B3 organ trio, a format he played in for half a dozen years during his early 20s. But rather than being just a greasy throwdown-which he does with requisite grit on 'T's Boogaloo,' alongside organist Delbert Bump and guitarist Steve Homan-this is a versatile outing that showcases the organ in all of its manifestations. A rendition of 'Monk's Dream' (with organist Jerry Z and tenor saxophonist Rob Dixon) finds the drummer traversing the kit in loosely syncopated fashion, providing the array of unexpected accents required of Monk's music. 'Water on the Moon' (with Dixon on tenor and Z on organ) is a modernist take on the B3 trio reminiscent of Larry Young's work with Joe Henderson and Elvin Jones. Clark creates an easygoing vibe with brushes on an alluring rendition of 'Angel Eyes' that underscores Bump's velvety organ tones and Homan's Grant Green-like guitar work, then turns around with the same trio and burns a blue streak on Bump's boppish workout 'Bookin.' (Clark's astonishing solo on the track should straight-up frighten drum students.)
Clark deals in N'Awlins-flavored funk on Jeff Pittson's 'Zoyd,' featuring Rez Abbasi on guitar, Rob Dixon on tenor sax and Pittson on B3. That same crew conjures up another modernist Larry Young-meets-Elvin swing feel on the surging 'Run Straight Down.' And Clark joins his longtime friend and drumming colleague Lenny White for the funky two-drum showcase 'Catlett Outta the Bag,' a '70s Herbie Hancock-styled jam featuring Pittson on clavinet, Dixon wailing on robust tenor and Tim Ouimette on muted trumpet. A special treat on this very satisfying outing is an emotionally charged reading of the torch song 'Cry Me a River,' with Clark on brushes and pain-etched vocals by Delbert McClinton.
JAZZIZ MAGAZINE
Fall 2010 review by Ed Kopp
Mike Clark has been pigeonholed as a jazz-funk drummer because of his important role in Herbie Hancock's Headhunters. However, fellow musicians know him as one of the most versatile drummers in jazz. A bebop skinsman long before he hooked up with Hancock, Clark once again displays his wide-ranging skills on this tribute recording to one of his favorite formats, the B3 combo.
Carnival of Soul makes a fine follow-up to Clark's 2008 studio release Blueprints of Jazz, Vol. 1 (Talking House), a hard-bop tour de force. And while the drummer's approach to organ-based jazz encompasses more than just funk, this album includes plenty. His masterful drum work should advance Clark's reputation as all-around rhythm ace.
The leader employs a rotating cast of 12 musicians that includes organists Delbert Bump, Jerry Z and Jeff Pittson, as well as roadhouse-blues singer Delbert McClinton and fellow drummer Lenny White. Besides funk, they undertake a few post-bop numbers, a greasy boogaloo, one Monk cover, a classic ballad and even some Miles-like fusion. Like every great drummer, Clark carries on a musical conversation in every tune. 'T's Boogaloo' is a danceable groover with soulful interchanges among the leader, Bump and guitarist Steve Homan. McClinton's vocal performance on 'Cry Me a River' is surprisingly reserved, but trumpeter Tim Ouimette shines. The Pittson composition 'Run Straight Down' bops hard, while guitarist Rez Abbasi and tenor saxman Rob Dixon embellish the modern funk piece 'Zoyd.'
The capper is a nasty funk-fusion collaboration with Lenny White called 'Catlett Outta the Bag.' A nod to influential swing and bop drummer Big Sid Catlett, the piece featured kinetic exchanges between the drummers, as well as among Pittson (on electric keyboard), Dixon and Ouimette. It's the climax of a well-crafted collection. Appears on page 88 of this digital link: https://www.jazziz.com/pageflip/Fall2010EsperanzaSpalding/pageflip.html
ALL ABOUT JAZZ - NY
Mike Clark (Owl Studios)
10/10 issue, by Elliott Simon
Drummer Mike Clark's paean to the Hammond B3 starts out with 'T's Boogaloo', a soulful and exceedingly juicy tune that is right at the center of this genre's delectably greasy ethos. Organist Delbert Bump showcases the B3's unmistakable sound, guitarist Steve Homan plays it funky and Clark matches the B3 with his up-in-the-mix drumming. But, this is the Mike Clark who drummed with the Headhunters and thus no common B3 trio session, with things moving out in a lot of different directions from initial B3 middle ground. Rob Dixon has a lot of blues in his tenor saxophone and he, Clark and funky organist Jerry Z take 'Monk's Dream' to a place where both genres intertwine to freshen up this familiar tune. Likewise, vocalist Delbert McClinton, trumpeter Tim Ouimette and pianist Kevin McKendree join Z and Clark for an achingly soulful version of the nugget 'Cry Me A River'. McClinton's raspy tearful voice and bluesy delivery is exquisitely soothed by Ouimette's buttery horn. Clark then goes decidedly 21st century with two swinging originals, the rhythmically interesting postbop of 'Water on the Moon' and harder bop of 'Turok Son of Stone'. Both these cuts have Dixon's sax wailing while the latter introduces the soulful B3 of Jeff Pittson and Rez Abbasi's clean fleet guitar lines. 'Bookin' has Clark drummin' up a storm with quick complex rhythms that both Homan and Bump use to full advantage in creating a full-on burner. Session-ender 'Catlett Outta the Bag' is something altogether different and wonderful. It features the double drumming of Clark and Bitches Brew/Return to Forever alum Lenny White with Pittson's funky keyboards, Ouimette's eerie Milesinfluenced horn and Dixon's groovin' sax for an incredible 'feels just like funky 1970' experience. Carnival of Soul is a fantastic trip through what a powerfully inventive drummer like Clark and a forceful instrument like the B3 can cook up when they invite over a bunch of friends. For more information, visit owlstudios.com. Clark is at Iridium Oct. 28th-31st.
Clark has earned consistent raves for 'Carnival' - 'one of the best jazz albums to be released this year.' Upcoming coverage includes print editions of DownBeat, All About Jazz NY and more. Clark recently took part in the Owl Studios All Star Band at the 2010 Indy Jazz Fest along with fellow label mates Rob Dixon, Frank Glover, Derrick Gardner, Pharez Whitted, Steve Allee and more. Upon his return from Russia, Clark will present an All-Star line-up of his own at New York's Iridium Jazz Club, from October 28th through October 31st. The killer band for 'Mike Clark's Indigo Blue' in NYC will be: Mike Clark (drums,) Christian McBride (bass,) Nicholas Payton (trumpet,) Donald Harrison (alto sax,) Rob Dixon (tenor sax) and Antonio Farao (a dynamic pianist from Italy who has been dubbed 'the Italian Herbie Hancock'). In other Clark-related news, details will soon be announced for an exciting new Owl Studios release by THE HEADHUNTERS!
More about Mike Clark:
Mike Clark gained worldwide recognition as one of America's foremost jazz and funk drummers while playing with Herbie Hancock's group in the early 1970's. Mike became known as a major innovator through his incisive playing on Hancock's 'Thrust' album, which garnered him an international cult following. Mike has performed with jazz greats such as Herbie Hancock, Chet Baker, Tony Bennett, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Woody Shaw, Larry Coryell, Jack Wilkins, Wallace Roney, Geri Allen, Billy Childs, James Genus, Bob Hurst, Chris Potter, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Dave Liebman, Nat Adderly, Oscar Brown Jr., Bill Doggett, Mose Allison, Maxine Brown, Gil Evans and his orchestra, and did a stint with Brand X, the acclaimed British fusion band, founded by Phil Collins. He has performed throughout the world at all of the major jazz venues and festivals.
See some recent coverage of Mike Clark's acclaimed 'Carnival of Soul', below:
ALL MUSIC - CD Review
7/10 BY MICHAEL G. NASTOS CARNIVAL OF SOUL (OWL)
https://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jjfixzysldfe~T1
WILDY'S WORLD - CD review
Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5) 7/17/10 Owl Studios
https://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2010/07/mike-clark-carnival-of-soul.html
JAZZIZ.COM CD PREVIEW: https://www.jazziz.com/news/2010/06/10/mike-clark's-carnival-of-soul/
Modern Drummer -
FIRST PERSON ESSAY/BLOG - 6/10
https://www.moderndrummer.com/modern-drummer-blogs/Mike%20Clark/
NUVO WEEKLY REVIEW and EDITOR'S PICK
https://www.nuvo.net/MusicBlog/archives/2010/06/15/mike-clarks-carnival-of-soul
THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR PREVIEW 6/10: https://blogs.indystar.com/upstage/2010/06/headhunters_eng.html
MELODIC INTERVIEW: https://www.melodic.net/interviewsOne.asp?interviewId=316
Visit https://www.mikeclarkmusic.com/
