This is Chapter 17 in an ongoing series of conversations, quotes, commentary, and updates with drumming legend Mike Clark. Mike’s keen observations provide numerous insights into ‘all things music’. I ask Mike to just tell it like it is…This includes the good, the bad, and everything else in between.
People many times ask what would you tell young musicians? Many will try to talk you out of what your vision is as they are jealous or have settled into some comfortable position. I had this experience with Actual Proof… People were bugging out in those days...Nobody will know where one is - You can’t do that…Just play time...etc.
I played Red Clay the other night and then we went into Sunny then back to Red Clay then Sunny, Red Clay, Sunny, Red Clay, Sunny etc. Damn that was some fun...Or was it Sunny? Anyway, Whatever ?
Had a great conversation with a great musician about many things Art Blakey. We talked about the Ice Cream Scoop on the ride cymbal for swingin’ - Like scooping ice cream....Any thoughts?
At The Kitano playing that beautiful Gretsch set and have to say Bill Goodwin tuned these baby’s and they sound like every Blue Note record I ever heard in the 1960’s. Beautiful, Bill – I play these drums a lot and they have never sounded like this!
Just heard a cut on the radio and the drummer was killin’ and playing an interesting vibe…It was Peter Erskine. Damn he can play a lot of different styles inside the jazz mode....
FRESH !!
The Headhunters rented us a place for a month in Baldwin Hills CA. Paul Jackson has been in Japan for 30 years and I’ve been in New York City for 30 years. We are driving James Levy's Cadillac heading towards Slauson, and I see two large dogs walking in sync right next to the window. They look seriously mangy and gnarly. I said man, someone lost their Afghans, and they look beat to hell they didn’t’ take very good care of them...Paul says those aren’t Afghans - I think those are coyotes! Damn, I had been in New York too long. We had never seen coyotes before!
It was interesting playing Larry Storch's Birthday Party. I got to play some great music since Larry is a jazz lover. There were plenty of 1960's TV actors, Barbara Feldon, Agent 99 from Get Smart, and Linda Purl from Happy Days who sang great. Comedians, many easily recognizable from sitcoms since the 1960's...A different night and I dug it.