THE STANLEY CLARKE TRIO: JAZZ IN THE GARDEN

Stanley Clarke is one of greatest bass players from fusion classic era. Made his name playing in Return to Forever, he started solo career later. And if some earlier solo albums are still interesting, very soon he started to flirt with disco, and went to more commercial direction.

In 2008 Return To Forever was re-united in their classic line-up and traveled the world with very successful world tour ( recorded on double CD, by the way). Soon after Chick Corea collaborated with John McLaughlin with similar world tour ( and double live CD as well). Clarke with another Return To Forever musician, drummer Lenny White, founded The Stanley Clarke Trio ( with young Japaneese piano jazz star Hiromy Uehara.

So, on this album you will find kind of classical jazz trio ( bass-piano-drums), playing acoustic post-bop and contemporary jazz. There are some jazz standards and some members original compositions.

The music is what the best modern acoustic jazz trio can play - mid-tempo melodic tunes , warm, nostalgic, very intelligent and stylish. All musicians are of highest class, so any modern jazz lover will be pleased by listening of this album. Japaneese traditional "Sakura Sakura" will touch your heart as well as Uehara's "Sicilian Blue". You can't find so warm and tender playing without flirting with pop-music in modern jazz very often!

Last album composition "Under The Bridge" is unusual jazz-cover of known Red Hot Chilly Pepper song!

Very recommended to any jazz lover. For fusion purists - not too much of fusion could be found there. But I think it will be one of the best contemporary jazz albums of 2009!