Home » Jazz Musicians » Mike Clark
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.
Read moreTags
The Headhunters: The Stunt Man
by Doug Collette
With the half-century anniversaries of Herbie Hancock's work with the Headhunters having passed in roughly the last year--Head Hunters (Columbia, 1973) and Thrust (Columbia, 1974)--it is appropriate the current configuration of the group has continued regular activity. In fact, under the fitting tutelage of drummer Mike Clark and percussionist Bill Summers, the band has issued two albums of new material in this span of time. Speakers in the House (Ropeadope, 2022) is an album of dashing panache and ...
Continue ReadingMike Clark: Humble As He Goes
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 ...
Continue ReadingTony Adamo: Soul Glide
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 ...
Continue ReadingVince Guaraldi: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
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 ...
Continue ReadingFunkwrench Blues: Soundtrack For A Film Without Pictures
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 ...
Continue ReadingThe Headhunters: Speakers In The House
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 ...
Continue ReadingThelonius Monk, Don Byron & Mike Clark
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 ...
Continue ReadingLegendary 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 ...
read more
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. ...
read more
Legendary Drummer Mike Clark to Record Live Album at Iridium with His 'Indigo Blue' Band
Source:
Seth Cohen PR
Legendary drummer Mike Clark will record a new, live album at Iridium Jazz Club in New York City, July 29th to 31st. Clark will be joined by his Indigo Blue band, featuring an All- Star line-up of Wallace Roney (trumpet), Donald Harrison (alto sax), Christian McBride (bass), Rob Dixon (tenor sax) and Antonio Farao (piano). The upcoming album, to be culled from recordings of the multi-night-run at Iridium, will feature a combination of standards and original compositions / arrangements by ...
read more
Owl Studios' Mike Clark + Pharez Whitted Nab Best Jazz Album NOM at IMA's!
Source:
Seth Cohen PR
Owl Studios' Mike Clark and Pharez Whitted Each Nominated for 'Best Jazz Album' in the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards Indianapolis-Based Owl Studios Honored with Two of the Five Nominees in Top Jazz Category Clark's Album Praised as Among the best new jazz albums to be released this year"; Whitted Delivers a Combination of intensity and technique, spank and sparkle" Indianapolis-based OWL STUDIOS is proud to announce they've been honored with two of the five nominations in the top jazz ...
read more
Praise Continues to Grow for Mike Clark's "Carnival of Soul" on Owl Studios
Source:
Seth Cohen PR
PRAISE CONTINUES TO GROW FOR MIKE CLARK'S CARNIVAL OF SOUL DOWNBEAT: An Epic Jam Session," with Clark as A Constant Force" NY TIMES: Clark has a jazzman's vision of group interplay" Owl Studios Debut for Mike Clark Keeps Earning Raves, as Legendary Drummer Returns from Headlining Tour of Russia and Hits the Road with The Headhunters Legendary drummer Mike Clark's Owl Studios debut 'Carnival of Soul' continues to earn notable reviews and fresh coverage. In their November issue, DOWNBEAT Magazine ...
read more
Owl Studios Readies Headhunters CD Featuring Snoop Dogg, George Clinton
Source:
Seth Cohen PR
As New Owl Studios CD Featuring Snoop Dogg, George Clinton & Others is Readied, The Legendary Headhunters Announce U.S. Tour A true fusion of Hip Hop, Jazz, Rap, Salsa, Rock, New Orleans, African rhythm and its classical forms" Jazz/funk/fusion legends THE HEADHUNTERS have announced a U.S. tour for November, with stops in NY, VT, MA, PA, ME, VA and NC. The seminal band is currently finalizing tracks for a compelling new CD, 'Platinum,' which will be released early next year ...
read more
Mike Clark Plays Iridium with Payton, McBride, Harrison, Dixon, Farao from October 28-31
Source:
Seth Cohen PR
Legendary Mike Clark to Re-Imagine One of Downbeat's 'Best Recordings of the Decade' in-Concert, with Crackerjack" Line-Up Featuring Nicholas Payton, Donald Harrison, Christian McBride, Antonio Farao and Rob Dixon NY's Iridium Jazz Club, October 28th to 31st Legendary drummer Mike Clark will re-imagine his acclaimed CD Blueprints of Jazzone of Downbeat's BEST RECORDINGS OF THE DECADEin a special series of concerts at New York's Iridium Jazz Club, from October 28th through October 31st. Mike Clark's Indigo Blue will feature many ...
read more
Mike Clark Russia Tour to Begin, as Owl CD Earns Raves from JAZZIZ and JazzTmes
Source:
Seth Cohen PR
JAZZTIMES Magazine and JAZZIZ Magazine 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." 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 ...
read more
Jazz Legend Mike Clark Plans Russia Tour to Promote Cultural Diplomacy
Source:
Seth Cohen PR
Jazz legend Mike Clark has confirmed plans for a tour of Russia next month, to promote cultural diplomacy and to introduce audiences in Moscow, Siberia, St. Petersburg and elsewhere to his acclaimed Owl Studios release, 'Carnival of Soul.' 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 1Sochi Oct 2Novorossiysk Oct 3Krasnodar Oct 5Spaso House Oct 6-13 (Jazz Province Festival) ...
read more
Legendary Mike Clark Leads All-Stars at NY's Iridium, Featuring Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton, Donald Harrison, More
Source:
Seth Cohen PR
Legendary Mike Clark to Headline All-Star Line-Up at NY's Iridium Jazz Club, October 28th to 31st, Featuring Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton, Donald Harrison, Antonio Farao and Rob Dixon Legendary drummer Mike Clark is proud to present an All-Star line-up at New York's Iridium Jazz Club, from October 28th through October 31st. As conceived by Clark, the shows will feature many of the performers from his acclaimed '08 CD, 'Blueprints of Jazz.' Newly re-imagined as 'Mike Clark's Indigo Blue,' the killer ...
read more
"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
Art Blakey
drumsJohn Coltrane
saxophoneMiles Davis
trumpetRoy Haynes
drumsElvin Jones
drumsPhilly Joe Jones
drumsHank Mobley
saxophone, tenorMax Roach
drumsMcCoy Tyner
pianoTony Williams
drumsMarcel P Blanchet
drumsThe Fanny Pack
band / ensemble / orchestraPhotos
Music
Soul Glide
From: Soul GlideBy Mike Clark
Little Birdie
From: A Charlie Brown ThanksgivingBy Mike Clark
One For Mganga
From: Kosen RufuBy Mike Clark
The Call
From: Soundtrack For A Film Without...By Mike Clark