Photo by Joan Cartwright
Interviews by
Acoustic and electric bassist, composer, publisher, webmistress
Congratulations to Kim Clarke (green dress)
recipient of THE SATCHMO AWARD from Elmcor Alumni Association
Founder and Co-Producer
LADY GOT CHOPS Women's Month Jazz Festival
(347) 866-2147 - k8ladybass@yahoo.com
Kim Clarke is a multifaceted bassist, composer, publisher, website developer and educator. She performs alternately on the Acoustic Bass, Electric Upright and four and five-stringed Electric Bass Guitar as the situation demands. She holds B.A.'s in Communications and Music from City College and Long Island University respectively, and is a 3- time recipient of the coveted N E A Jazz Study Fellowship. Ms Clarke is also a long-time student of the Jazzmobile and Barry Harris Workshops and continues her formal studies with the wisdom gained therein. She was also a member of Harris' Jazz Cultural Theatre's house band for the famed Art Blakey Breakfast Jam.
As an Acoustic bassist Kim traveled most notably with the late Joe Henderson Quartet (1986-7) throughout Europe. Internationally, Kim is noted as "at home in the Ron Carter School of Hard Bop", "a dynamic Woman in Jazz who supported the intense rhythm of the Henderson group with unsuspected vitality and melodic solo passages."
Over the years Kim has also toured with international artists such as : George Gruntz , Christy Doran, Marilyn Mazur, and Ursula Dudziak. Her experiences include tours with the Joe Henderson Quartet, National Black Theatre, Yusef Lateef Quartet, Teri Thornton Trio, Bertha Hope Trio, Robert Palmer , Kit McClure Big Band, Defunkt , Rachel Z Trio, Bigfood, Wallace Roney and Cindy Blackman Quartet, Oliver Lake and Jump Up, James Blood Ulmer Experience, Jack Mc Duff Quartet, Rodney Kendricks Quartet, Jazzberry Jam and local performances with: Harold Ousley, Jimmy Heath , Steve Coleman, Lester Bowie, Andy Bey, Louis Hayes, Gerald Hayes, Lionel Hampton, Candido, Patato, Little Jimmy Scott, Dr. Billy Taylor, Olu Dara, Screamin Jay Hawkins, Dakota Staton , Gracian Moncur, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Marylou Williams, Sharon Freeman, Sheila Jordan, Geri Allen, Vanessa Rubin, Cassandra Wilson, Fievre Latina, Adela Dalto, poets Ntozake Shange and Trazana Beverly, dancers Tina Pratt and Roxanne Butterfly.
She is a performer with The Napoleon Revels -Bey Rhythm Kings and Jazz and Tap Programs as well as Mickie D and Friends "Dance Rhythm Dance" as well as the founding co-producer of the "LADY GOT CHOPS Women's Month Jazz Festival" with the owners of the Jazz (aka Jazz Spot Caf�), Lillithe Myers and her daughter Tiecha Merritt.The festival is now in its fifth year.
Kim had the honor to perform with the Ghetto Fighters for the 64th Jimi Hendrix Birthday Celebration at B. B. Kings in NY, on Nov 27 2006. Her discography and performance schedule are maintained at her website as well as access that of her band, MAGNETS! "Live at the Earshot Jazz Festival" CD :
Kim performs on the Acoustic Bass, Electric Upright and four and five-stringed Electric Bass Guitar as the situation demands. Her electric bass playing has been described as soulful and rich, and she has been touted internationally as "the only well-know woman bassist in Jazz -of her generation." Her musical tour experience spans from Guyana , South America through the West and East Coasts of the United States , and touches Canada, Japan, Europe, and Pakistan.
In 1981 Clarke embarked upon what was to become a 22 year tour affiliation with trombonist Joseph Bowie and his avant-jazz funk unit Defunkt ; a powerful mixed-idiom group which wowed audiences from Iceland to Istanbul. She has performed on 17 Defunkt CD's.
Ms Clarke's press exposure also includes 1990 entry in the Who's Who In the Performing Arts, Bass Player Magazine, Guitar Player Magazine, Germany's Jazzdimensions Online Magazine, a number of European magazines and several books on Women in Jazz. She also was photographed in the late 1980's historic Jazz Musicians on the Roof Project and was one of the Michael Locker's New York Jazz Musicians Project in 2002.
As an acoustic bassist her credits are truly impressive. She traveled with the late Joe Henderson Quartet and has also toured with international artists such as : George Gruntz , Annie Whitehead, Christy Doran, Marilyn Mazur, and Ursula Dudziak. Her experiences include tours with the National Black Theatre, Yusef Lateef Quartet, Teri Thornton Trio, Bertha Hope Trio, Robert Palmer , Kit McClure Big Band, Defunkt , Rachel Z Trio, Bigfood, Wallace Roney and Cindy Blackman Quartet, Oliver Lake and Jump Up, James Blood Ulmer Experience, Jack Mc Duff Quartet, Rodney Kendricks Quartet, and local performances with: Harold Ousley, Jimmy Heath , Steve Coleman, Lester Bowie, Andy Bey, Louis Hayes, Gerald Hayes, the late Lionel Hampton, Candido, Patato, Little Jimmy Scott, Dr. Billy Taylor, Olu Dara, Screamin Jay Hawkins, Dakota Staton , Gracian Moncur, the late Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Marylou Williams, Sharon Freeman, Sheila Jordan, Geri Allen, Vanessa Rubin , Cassandra Wilson, Fievre Latina, Adela Dalto, poets Ntozake Shange and Trazana Beverly, dancers Tina Pratt and Roxanne Butterfly, and rapper/actress Queen Latifah.
Clarke holds B.A.'s in Communications and Music from City College and Long Island University respectively, and is a 3- time recipient of the coveted N E A Jazz Study Fellowship.