Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Showcase => Artists and Their Alembics => Topic started by: James L. Martin (malthumb) on October 14, 2002, 07:05:39 PM
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Okay, it's not concert footage, but it's one of my favorite pictures. That's because as I type this, 87-4431 is an arm's length away from me, cooling down from a rousing session that included Strawberry Letter 23, Stomp, Mista Cool, Glory to Glory to Glory and an admittedly lame renditon of Marcus Miller's Power
TRIVIA: Strawberry Letter 23 & Mista Cool are both from the Brothers Johnson album that has Louis on the cover sporting an Omega Series I almost identical to 87-4431
Peace,
James
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/1996.jpg)
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Funny to see Stanley play an other alembic than his signature models, it also seems to have much of its electronics removed.
Stan is a huge guy and given the fact that this bass seems to dwarf him a bit that must mean that this bass must be of big proportion too.
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Blazer,
This is a posed shot. It was in an article (written in Japanese) that toured his home and included photos of all of his basses at that time.
The idea that the bass is dwarfing Stanley is a camera angle thing. I'm a little guy (at least vertically speaking) and it doesn't dwarf me at all.
Peace,
James
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Debi & I had the chance to see Stanley a few months ago. It was in a small venue at Jacksonville Beach called The Freebird Cafe. What a show! Debi had never heard him before was speechless. He did a solo on a double bass that was the most amazing thing I'd heard. What a talent!
I think every bass player in North East Florida was there. The guys from Bass Central even came up from Orlando.
Sam
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I saw SC playing upright in a duet with Barry Manilow on a TV show once. Great!!!
I also read that SC is a great bower on the upright too.
Paul the bad one
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Some friends took me to one of his shows about ten years ago. As much as you have to give him credit for his part in the emancipation of the bass guitar, I must say I was not terribly impressed by the music he played - ye olde fusion type of stuff.
On upright, he was just racing up and down the neck, and the sound was thin, but I can't (or won't) remember what his Alembic sounded like. Then again I did buy an Epic a year later ...
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Stanley to me expresses the sound of Alembic (if Alembic can be said to have a particular sound)better than anyone else I've ever heard, even including other such personal favourites as John Entwistle, John Paul Jones and Mark King. If someone asked me what an Alembic sounds like (other than answering like anything you want!), I would put on I Wanna Play For You. Although I admit to having been disappointed by the quality of his output during more recent years, the early albums (particularly the 1st brown album)were seminal moments for me. In fact I bought Stanley's 1st and Jaco's 1st on the same day,having not really heard anything by either previously and, possibly contrary to almost everyone else I've heard, was completely blown away by Stanley and left somewhat underwhelmed by Jaco. And a great part of what I loved was that sound.Stanley is one of the few players I've heard who can play just one note and send me into rapture....
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Bigbadbill, I agree with that sentiment of Stanley epitomising the sound of Alembic. He is the reason I now have one myself. When I started getting into return to forever and I wanna Play for you, i didn't know what bass it was only that I loved the sound.
It was when I saw him in concert in the UK at the time of the first Clarke Duke project album that I saw the bass he was using and then made the connnection with Alembic. From then I have been hooked on the tone.
I also remember seeing Stanley Clarke live at the Coachhouse in California when he was playing with Billy Cobham, Larry Carlton, Najee and Deron Johnson and i remember being totally blown away by his sound.
I do like Jaco's sound and I can get close to it tonally on my Alembic when I need to but my technique isn't really geared to playing like that and i haven't had any gigs where that sound was needed.
I love the sound he gets on the Justice's Groove track off east river drive and also Anouche on the Vertu album.
There is a certain magic in his sound which is very distinctive, much like Carlos Santana... when you hear their sound anywhere.... you always stop and listen and know who you are listening to.
Stan is the Man...
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(Message edited by rami on January 09, 2004)
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One minor detail I may have left out in my many tellings of the how I got this bass from Stanley story.
Back in the early '90s I was in downtown Detroit on business. As I was driving down Woodward Ave., the radio station I was listening to announced that tickets for the Stanley Clarke / George Duke concert at The Fox were going to go on sale at 10:00 am at TicketMaster and at the Fox Box Office. It was 9:40 something and I had just driven past the Fox. I turned around, parked, and was like 7th in line. Bought two tickets. Second row.
My girlfriend (now wife) and I went to the concert. The seat directly in front of us was empty. Stanley started roaming through the crowd, jammin' like a maniac. He stood on the seat in front of me and just totally went nuts on a solo. I could have reached out and touched the bass had I not been in a total trance. I remember clearly that the bass was not a small body, because I recalled it was different from the basses I was used to seeing him play.
I'm pretty certain that it was the bass I now own. I asked him about that concert when I talked to him on the phone about buying this bass. He remembered the concert, but couldn't clearly remember if he had this bass at that concert. He did recall that he did use it ocassionally on tour with George Duke.
Peace,
James
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I just knew you were holding something back, James . Great story.
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James, I am not worthy! That is a great story.And to have one of Stanley's basses...wow.
Further to my earlier comments, I'd like to add that I obviously later came to appreciate Jaco as the phenomenal bass player he was, but ultimately I guess I'll always be a Stan man; something about his style and tone (and yes, definitely his choice of bass!) just spoke to me; and I guess that's the reason we all love the players we love, because they speak to us in some personal way. I'll never forget seeing him in London with George Duke; at one point he had 2 Alembics slung round his back, and was soloing on a 3rd....!!!
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does any body ever wonder why stanley doesnt play the alembic (sterling 25th anniversary alembic ?) after all he is the who should let us all see and hear one.
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Great clip with Stanley Clarke / Steve Gadd
Silly Putty and other stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je_iqbgGXFw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je_iqbgGXFw)
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Saw him w. George Duke and Marcus Miller the other night. He had the upright, the short scale SI and a maple long scale 4 Omega with a Fan 5 (http://www.alembic.com/info/headshapes.html) peghead. I was in the back so I couldn't see if it was a SI or SII. He used it on some of George's Brazilian material. For the encore (P-Funk medley) Marcus came out and played it.
Last fall at World Cafe he used the upright and SI, the Dragon's Breath was sitting on a stand, but was unplayed during the two sets.
Have now seen drummer Ronald Bruner Jr. (http://www.stanleyclarke.com/players/bruner_pg.htm) twice - this kid's the real deal. Each time Stanley has said This is a musician I have waited for. If the Clarke/Duke Tour hits your town check 'em out.
TV Alert: Marcus Miller will be featured on BET J's On the Road with Stanley Clarke on June 15. On June 22nd it's George Duke, Terence Blanchard and others. Times are 7AM PST/10AM EST, and again at 4PM PST/7PM EST.
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Probably a stupid question, but can you download stuff from YouTube? I've got horrible visions of it disappearing one day and all these fabulous clips going with it....
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Wow! Great video! Thanks Adrian!
Nice bass!!
Where is this video from?
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Shaun; I believe the quick answer is no you can't download it. Several years ago I downloaded a piece of software that would record streaming audio. The quality of streaming audio back then was pretty poor and I only used it a few times. My guess, and it's only a guess since I haven't actually looked, is that there may be software you can purchase that will record streaming video. I don't know; I'm sure there are other members here who know a lot more about streaming video than I do. And yes, given the amount of copyright violations on that site, I can see where the whole thing could indeed disappear.
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While we're here, this is nice! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3MaUSbaqlg&search=stanley%20clarke)
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Thanks, Dave. I love watching musicians who seem to be having a blast. Anyone know who the guitarist and drummer are?
Rich
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The guitar player looks real familiar.
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I have the full video of that concert. It was for the BBC Old Grey Whistle Test when the first Clarke Duke Project album came up. I recorded the concert on my old betamax video then later transferred to VHS then a couple of years ago to DVD.
I will have a look on the video and get the name. But off the top of my head either the drummer or guitarist is called Geoff Leeb.
Jazzyvee
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Dave, thanks for the answer. Somehow that's what I was afraid of. So much fantastic stuff on there....
Jazzyvee, I don't suppose it would be possible to get hold of a copy of that? I'm in the UK....please email me if you'd like to discuss.
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That was great. Maybe you could post some of your DVD on Youtube?
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A minor revelation: I always thought he played those fast descending triplets with two fingers. Now I see he uses three. I always wondered how he played those for 30 bars or whatever it was on the Live in '77 album.
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(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/29177.jpg)
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(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/29180.jpg)
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What bass is that? Do you have any close ups?
Jazzyvee
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Somebody went overboard while copying a Burns Bison?
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Mr. Clarke seems to be happy with it, pimp my Burns!
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Hi,
The davehouck this is nice video with George Duke has Stanley playing my '77 maple body Alembic I sold him in 1979. I have owned and sold three Alembics: a 1978 series 1 Med scale, 1976 series 1 long scale, and the 1977 (I believe it was a '77) maple short scale series 1 that Stanley flipped over when he saw it. He wanted to trade a very early Ken Smith bass made with built-in effects and leds on the control plate for the bass. I declined so he wrote me a check and I bought one of his F2B's, an input module, and a Crown DC300A. I was playing my favorite 1978 serial 1021 at the time, but later sold it. I traded the 1976 series one long scale back to Alembic in 1978 in order to get the '77 maple bass that Stanley bought. Stanley used the maple '77 in the video on this thread and for the inner sleeve of one of his LP's that came out in the early 80's. He really liked the way the maple looked and loved the sound of that bass. I'm an alembic bass and Wickersham family fan from way back. I don't own an Alembic at this time, but that will change some time in the future. Regards, Keith Rosier
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The bass Stanley is playing in the photos!http://www.loewenherz-basses.com/ (http://www.loewenherz-basses.com/)
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I wonder how much those lion head ornaments weigh? Unfortunately, I can't read German.
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I've just spent a bit of time on that site. There are some lovely looking basses there.
And according to the site it looks like Stanley as bought that bass. Looks seriously sexy.
I wonder if it's short scale?
I'll be waiting for his next album to hear what it sounds like compared to his Alembics.
Jazzyvee.
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Well, I think if I ever spend crazy money on an obscure German bass (six pickups!!) I'd rather have a Ritter. Always wanted a bolt-on with TWELVE bolts . . .
I wonder if I DID get one, though, could they give me one of those LionHeads to use for a front door knocker? Wait till one of these guys backing a rapper shows up with one on a chain around his neck, or set in the grill of the Stretch Hummer. BLING !!
J o e y
(Message edited by bigredbass on June 22, 2006)
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When I saw Stanley last month he had a bass on a stand in the back corner. I didn't recognize it and he didn't play it. The head and body shape looks to be the same as I see on this bass.
Keith
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Hi Keith; welcome to the group! Nice story about the equipment trade with Stanley!
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Hi Dave and everybody,
Thanks. I'd like to share that Stanley Clarke was my first bass hero, and I've gotten to talk with him a few times over the years. He's a nice person and very respectful -just what you would expect. He works with my best buddy, Ron Finn on movie things, so I get to hear about his side projects when he and Ron are doing film composing things. I got to provide some music for Soul Food when Stanley was doing it --I found that to be a very cool thing working on something that involved him. Incidently, I just saw a show on BET called On the road with Stanley Clarke today. It's an interview/playing thing with Stan as the interviewer. I couldn't find it on the tivo list of shows, so I don't know when it will be airing again. Regards, Keith Rosier
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Why thanks for the welcome Dave. LOL.
Keith
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keith_h
The loewenherz bass looks like what I thought was a SII at the Clarke/Duke/Miller show. I was at the back of the room so I mistook the Lion's Head for an Omega cut, but the peghead and horns are exactly as I remember. Definitely 34 scale, it was on a stand next to his regular Alembic.
As noted above he only used it on some of George's Brazilian material. For the encore (P-Funk medley) Marcus came out and played it.
keith_rosier
BET J's On the Road with Stanley Clarke with Marcus Miller ran 6/15. On 6/22 it was George Duke, Terence Blanchard and other film composers. The show is listed as Smooth Jazz TV (a one hour block w. an interview show running in the second half). It plays on Thursdays, times are 7AM PST/10AM EST, and again at 4PM PST/7PM EST. Stanley's site says 7 epps shot, to air in June. Hmmm, 5 Thursdays this June, 7 epps to air and the www.bet.com/BETJ (http://www.bet.com/BETJ) site is less than helpful with schedules.
Kelvin Sims, Sr. will interview and do a listener call-in with George Duke on radio/internet Friday, June 23 at 9:00 P.M. Central Time. More info in the Stanley Clarke Forum (http://www.stanleyclarke.com/board/thread.php?id=253). They play the St Louis Jazz Fest on the 24th.
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Newuser -
Definitely 34 scale, it was on a stand next to his regular Alembic.
- that would actually make it a 30.75 short scale (very big guy, very small bass).
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Thanks Adriaan, good catch.
I meant to write that the Loewenherz bass was long scale, not his regular Alembic (which is a short scale).
EG: The Loewenherz's fretboard was noticeably longer than the Alembic's when both were standing side by side (while the upright was being played).
-dan
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Keith H; sometimes you can't tell the players without a scorecard!
Keith R; I just checked out your website. Very impressive resume!!!
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davehouck, Thanks. I'll tell my wife, Denise -she designed the site. Regards, Keith
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(Message edited by keavin on July 02, 2006)