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Mike Clark

Mike Clark gained worldwide recognition as one of America’s foremost jazz and funk drummers while playing with Herbie Hancock in the early seventies. His incisive playing on Hancock’s “Actual Proof” garnered him an international cult following and influenced generations of drummers. While Mike digs the funk, he consider jazz his first love, and playing that music is what he says feeds his soul.

Besides Herbie Hancock, Mike has performed and recorded with such well-known jazz greats as Christian McBride, Chet Baker, John Scofield, Nicholas Payton, Tony Bennett, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Donald Harrison, Eddie Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Vince Guaraldi, Woody Shaw, Albert King, Larry Coryell, Mike Wolff, Wallace Roney, Billy Childs, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Chris Potter, Bobby McFerrin, Nat Adderly, Oscar Brown Jr., and Gil Evans and his Orchestra.

Born in Sacramento, CA, Mike traveled around the country with his father, a union man for the railroad, and a former drummer himself. His dad had a great appreciation for jazz and blues music, and Mike credits this exposure as forming the foundation for his ability to synthesize many different regional styles. He absorbed the music of America while riding the rails. From age 4, he was a prodigy, sitting in—and getting “house” —- with bands in Texas and New Orleans. By the time he reached his early twenties, he had become one of the founders of the distinctive East Bay Sound coming out of Oakland, California.

During the late sixties, Mike led his own jazz organ trio,. Then he met Hancock in 1973. With Herbie, Mike set the rhythms for the acclaimed group, The Headhunters. Afterwards, he did a two-year stint with Brand X, the British jazz/rock fusion band founded by Phil Collins. With them he recorded ”Do They Hurt?” and “Product.”

By 2000, Mike had made a foray into the popular jam band scene. His group Prescription Renewal pulled together cross-generational talents, such as Charlie Hunter, Fred Wesley, Skerik, Robert Walter, and DJ Logic, and featured special guests such as Donald Harrison, George Porter Jr. of The Meters, Les Claypool, Larry Goldings and fellow Headhunters alumni Bill Summers. He also toured with The Roots Funk All Stars.

Along with James Brown's drummer Clyde Stubblefield, Mike's beats with The Headhunters (most notably "God Make Me Funky") include some of the most sampled in hip hop. He has been featured in Downbeat, Musician, International Musician & Recording World, Modern Drummer, Jazz Times, Guitar Player, Jazz Is, and numerous jazz history and method books.

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Multiple Reviews

Mike Clark: Humble As He Goes

Read "Mike Clark: Humble As He Goes" reviewed by Doug Collette


Drummer/composer/bandleader Mike Clark's resume is as diverse as his talent and, in turn, his discography. The man who dramatically raised his public profile by sitting at the kit for Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters has gone on to record in a wide variety of settings, with a panoply of people, including guitarist extraordinaire Charlie Hunter, British fusioneers Brand X plus once and future member of the Meters, George Porter Jr. Somewhat contrary to Clark's restless, eclectic spirit, both of these ...

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Album Review

Tony Adamo: Soul Glide

Read "Soul Glide" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


"Soul Glide" is the latest offering from singer/composer and hipster nonpareil, Tony Adamo. The track is a slick R&B throwback with an Eddie Harris “Listen Here" vibe and groove. It is an enjoyable listen and it has terrific momentum and bite. Over a solid rhythm bed from this spirited ensemble, Rob Sudduth's tenor opens the track with a tight “Famous Flames"-like line that chants a musical “you dig?" Adamo joins the party singing lyrics that are lathered ...

15
Album Review

Vince Guaraldi: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Read "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" reviewed by James Aren


Just in time for Thanksgiving, the people at Lee Mendelson films are serving up a fresh take on some old favorites. The soundtrack to a A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving has been released for the first time, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the special. Vince Guaraldi's voice is the first sound on the album. “Okay, well, did ya get that last one? This is cue one," as it swings into “Charlie Brown Blues." It is a good introduction ...

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Album Review

Funkwrench Blues: Soundtrack For A Film Without Pictures

Read "Soundtrack For A Film Without Pictures" reviewed by Chris May


Once upon a time it was hard to walk into an arthouse cinema without bumping into a jazz soundtrack. Miles Davis' for Louis Malle's Ascenseur Pour L'échafaud (1958), Charles Mingus' for John Cassavetes' Shadows (1959), Krzysztof Komeda's for Roman Polanski's Knife In The Water (1962) were among a legion of similarly inclined endeavours. But all that was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. In the 2020s, if you want to hear a freshly ...

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Album Review

The Headhunters: Speakers In The House

Read "Speakers In The House" reviewed by Doug Collette


Herbie Hancock's Headhunters (Columbia, 1973) remains one of the seminal works of the jazz fusion era. The group's heavy emphasis on rhythm not only separated it from its guitar-oriented peers of the era, the Mahavishnu Orchestra and the middle-period Return to Forever, but also from Weather Report: grooves became increasingly more prominent as that band evolved, but never to the depth of Hancock and company's all-encompassing funk. That solid foundation is more than enough distinction for the first ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Thelonius Monk, Don Byron & Mike Clark

Read "Thelonius Monk, Don Byron & Mike Clark" reviewed by Joe Dimino


We start the 774th Episode of Neon Jazz with drummer Mike Clark and bassist Leon Lee Dorsey with the title track off their new project Blues on Top. We also hear new music from Chris Parker, Joe McCarthy leading his NY Afro Bop Alliance Big Band and John Fumasoli with his band The Jones Factor. Drummer Dafnis Prieto also has a new project out. We finish off the hour with emerging trombonist Miró Henry Sobrer with music from his 2022 ...

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Album Review

The Headhunters: Speakers In The House

Read "Speakers In The House" reviewed by Chris May


Although it appears to have been self-released in limited numbers in 2019, this Ropeadope release of Speakers In The House is effectively the Headhunters's first album since Platinum (Owl) in 2011. The band continues to be led and produced by its two Herbie Hancock-era members, percussionist Bill Summers and drummer Mike Clark, who together have kept the outfit intermittently active since Hancock moved on to other things in the mid 1970s. Summers played on the band's debut, ...

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Recording

Pianist Michael Wolff Guests with Bassist Leon Lee Dorsey and Drummer Mike Clark on Evocative Tribute Album, 'Letter to Bill Evans'

Pianist Michael Wolff Guests with Bassist Leon Lee Dorsey and Drummer Mike Clark on Evocative Tribute Album, 'Letter to Bill Evans'

Source: Lydia Liebman Promotions

For their seventh outing together as a close-knit, collaborative rhythm tandem, bassist Leon Lee Dorsey and drummer Mike Clark tapped pianist Michael Wolff as third man in their ongoing trio adventures. Wolff, who had previously appeared with Dorsey and Clark on 2020’s Play Sgt. Pepper, was indeed the perfect choice to complete the triumvirate on this heartfelt tribute to the late, great pianist-composer known for his contributions to Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue as well as his hugely influential trio ...

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Recording

Bassist Leon Lee Dorsey and drummer Mike Clark return on seasoned new outing 'Cantaloupe Island' beside guitar great Russell Malone, out now via Jazz Avenue 1

Bassist Leon Lee Dorsey and drummer Mike Clark return on seasoned new outing 'Cantaloupe Island' beside guitar great Russell Malone, out now via Jazz  Avenue 1

Source: Lydia Liebman Promotions

Renowned bassist Leon Lee Dorsey continues his prolific streak with the issue of Cantaloupe Island, the latest album to be released on his Jazz Avenue 1 label and a continuation of his bountiful partnership with revered drummer Mike Clark. On their sixth collaboration since 2019, the stalwart rhythm section brings in virtuosic guitarist Russell Malone for an invigorating nine-track program of compositions by Horace Silver, Wes Montgomery, Prince and more. Cantaloupe Island was released on February 17, 2023. Since joining ...

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Recording

Legendary Drummer Mike Clark and Superlative Saxophonist Michael Zilber Present Collaborative Album 'Mike Drop'

Legendary Drummer Mike Clark and Superlative Saxophonist Michael Zilber Present Collaborative Album 'Mike Drop'

Source: Lydia Liebman Promotions

Sunnyside Records is proud to announce the July 16th, 2021 release of Mike Drop, an impressive new album co-led by iconic jazz drumming legend Mike Clark and renowned saxophonist Michael Zilber. The culmination of a decade-long musical relationship, Mike Drop features these two consummate players alongside two top Bay Area stalwarts bassist Peter Barshay and pianist Matt Clark. Recorded at Oakland’s 25th Street Studio in 2018, the tight-locked group created a buoyant celebration of time and place that is both ...

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Recording

Leon Lee Dorsey's 'Freedom Jazz Dance' with Mike Clark and Manuel Valera is out August 20, 2021 via Jazz Avenue 1

Leon Lee Dorsey's 'Freedom Jazz Dance' with Mike Clark and Manuel Valera is out August 20, 2021 via Jazz Avenue 1

Source: Lydia Liebman Promotions

Jazz Avenue 1 is proud to announce the August 20, 2021 release of Freedom Jazz Dance by veteran bassist Leon Lee Dorsey, drummer extraordinaire Mike Clark and brilliant Cuban-born pianist Manuel Valera. Dedicated to the late Puerto Rican-born piano master Hilton Ruiz, whom Dorsey regularly played with in his last years (appearing on 2004’s A New York Story and 2005’s Steppin’ with T.P., the pianist’s dedication to his own mentor, Tito Puente), this collection of eight tunes highlights that same ...

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Recording

Pianist Michael Wolff, Drummer Mike Clark and Bassist Leon Lee Dorsey take on the iconic Beatles’ classic, 'Sgt. Pepper'

Pianist Michael Wolff, Drummer Mike Clark and Bassist Leon Lee Dorsey take on the iconic Beatles’ classic, 'Sgt. Pepper'

Source: Lisa Reedy Promotions

It was 53 years ago today, May 26, 1967, when the Beatles released the seminal Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. It has been hailed a milestone ("a joyful revelation," “the definitive Beatles album"), considered one of their best at the time of its release, and ranked “the greatest album of all time by Rolling Stone's list of the top 500 rock and roll recordings." So, when bassist extraordinaire Leon Dorsey and drum legend Mike Clark were tossing it back ...

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Radio

Lenny White Podcast - He Hosts In-Depth Interviews With Ron Carter, Mike Clarke, DJ Logic And More! Listen And Learn!

Lenny White Podcast - He Hosts In-Depth Interviews With Ron Carter, Mike Clarke, DJ Logic And More!  Listen And Learn!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

IYOUWE Universe Podcast now available! Click here to hear the new IYOUWE Universe Podcast. The brand new interview podcast, IYOUWE Universe, is out now on all major podcast hosts! Hosted by Lenny White, the podcast delivers candid interviews with some of music's most influential figures. First three episodes: Ron Carter | Mike Clark | DJ Logic New episodes will become available every Tuesday! Listen now on: iTunes | Google Play Music | Stitcher Radio ...

Education

Music Education Monday: Feeling the funk with Paul Jackson and Mike Clark

Music Education Monday: Feeling the funk with Paul Jackson and Mike Clark

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Though bassist Paul Jackson and drummer Mike Clark both have extensive lists of credits, they still may be best known as the funky foundation of the Headhunters, the band that backed keyboardist Herbie Hancock in the 1970s and subsequently spun off into an independent act. The slippery, off-beat syncopation of interlocking drum and bass tracks powering compositions like Hancock's “Palm Grease" and “Actual Proof" and the Headhunters' own “God Make Me Funky" was distinctive at the time and retains its ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz Legends The Headhunters Featuring Founding Members Mike Clark And Bill Summers To Play West Coast Dates

Jazz Legends The Headhunters Featuring Founding Members Mike Clark And Bill Summers To Play West Coast Dates

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

New York, NY: The Headhunters have redefined modern funk, world music, and jazz as one of the most innovative groups in history. They recorded for several years with legendary pianist Herbie Hancock, representing a major turning point for Hancock with the formation of this popular band in 1973. The Columbia album Head Hunters became extremely popular, fusing jazz with funk and rock, the album sold over a million copies and attracted many R&B and rock fans, even out— selling Miles ...

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Recording

Jazz Legends Michael Wolff And Mike Clark To Release "Wolff & Clark Expedition" Debut CD

Jazz Legends Michael Wolff And Mike Clark To Release "Wolff & Clark Expedition" Debut CD

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Available February 19 on RANDOM ACT RECORDS New York, NY – When two of the best musicians on the planet decide to combine their estimable talents to create a band without boundaries, the result is the WOLFF & CLARK EXPEDITION. Dizzy Gillespie famously said that jazz must have “one foot in the past and one in the future.” With the Wolff & Clark Expedition, the music embraces the past, ventures into the future, but remains rooted in the improvisatory present. ...

Performance / Tour

The Wolff & Clark Expedition Featuring Jazz Legends Michael Wolff And Mike Clark To Play The Sgi-usa In New York, Ny - Oct. 15, 2012

The Wolff & Clark Expedition Featuring Jazz Legends Michael Wolff And Mike Clark To Play The Sgi-usa In New York, Ny - Oct. 15, 2012

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

New York, NY – Jazz legends Michael Wolff and Mike Clark, the Wolff & Clark Expedition, will be performing at the SGI-USA in New York, NY on October 15, 2012, promising unforgettable evenings of hot jazz and funk. The duo will be joined by Daryl Johns on acoustic bass, and Mark Shim on alto sax. Hot off the heels of a very successful engagement in Los Angeles, the Wolff & Clark Expedition is preparing to bring their special blend of ...

"He's a great jazz drummer —- and he hasn't lost any of the stuff hat he brought from Oakland. So now he's totally free to do both, and he does. The solo he played on the album Thrust, on the song "Actual Proof" is one of the best drum solos on any of my albums. So many people have remarked about that solo, saying, "Incredible"

-Herbie Hancock

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band / ensemble / orchestra

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Soul Glide

Staint Jaz Records
2024

buy

A Letter to Bill Evans

Jazz Avenue 1
2024

buy

Cantaloupe Island

Jazz Avenue 1
2023

buy

Kosen Rufu

Wide Hive Records
2023

buy

A Charlie Brown...

Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc.
2023

buy

Soul Glide

From: Soul Glide
By Mike Clark

Little Birdie

From: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
By Mike Clark

One For Mganga

From: Kosen Rufu
By Mike Clark

The Call

From: Soundtrack For A Film Without...
By Mike Clark

Videos

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