Search - Stanley Clarke :: If This Bass Could Only Talk

The REAL Stanley Came Back To Visit!

P. McKenna | Atlanta GA | 11/09/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When I first heard this disc it was a breath of fresh air for me and a relief at the same time. I thought, "At last, Stanley's doing GOOD albums again!"



Given the schlocky albums he put out from 1979 and throughout the 80's, I was VERY skeptical at first. But my doubts that Stanley still had it were pretty much erased upon first listen. Here, Stanley has shown how diverse a musical pallette he has:



The two cuts with tap dancer Gregory Hines are nothing short of FUN and BRILLIANT simultaneously, as Stanley pulls off some stunning chord melody bass to Hine's mercilessly complex tap rhythms! "Goodbye Porkpie Hat" the old Charles Mingus chestnut gets a very high-tech 1980's treatment here, featuring Wayne Shorter on soprano sax. Other tracks like "Workin' Man" and "Stories To Tell" just get flat out fierce like the Stanley of old, no fuzak here.



The only thing that I din't much care for was the album's now rather dated 1980's production (heavy reverb, tons of synths etc), hence the 4 stars as opposed to five. Sucha shame he didn't do more albums like this after for it sure was good to hear the REAL Stanley Clarke a-slappin' again!"

Stanley's best work in the '80s

Henry Cooper | Atlanta, GA | 06/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I luv this record to death. 'Cuz it's sure is my all-time favorite and mostly an introuduction to Stanley Clarke. I been listening to it since day 1 (1994 or 1995) and it's still sound more mature than it has been on his previous records. It does features an all-star cast: the late George Howard (RIP), the late Gregory Hines (whom he features on two tracks above, RIP), his long-time mentor and partner George Duke, my label-mate Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, just to name a few.



There's not enuff I can't say 'bout it but 2 say all the songs incl. the remake of Janet Jackson "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)" is outstanding. It does features a solo from Freddie which u consider playing real smoothly like Miles or Chuck Mangione or whatever maybe even Rick Braun or Chris Botti.



Also on "Workin' Man" (such a sweet song) is mostly like a rock or jazz shuffle that take u 'cross where u at. Then on "Tradition" (one of my all-time favorites from the album) is mostly a good breakout reminds me of Miles Davis' KIND OF BLUE which I listen too alot. Among other tracks like "Come Take My Hand", the title track, "Bassically Taps" (big groove and nice work from my man and fav. actor Gregory Hines), "I Want to Play for Ya", Charles Mingus' work "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" (once remaked by Clarke himself and others like Spyro Gyra whom among my favorite jazz group of all-time, etc.), etc. are real smooth and very touchy.



This is a great album to keep just b/c it's a must for all jazz fans and all musicians who played in the jazz band and marching band whom I played backed in high school. I sure this wouldn't disappoint you @ all. Stanley Clarke is truly my main artist to date. I luv him 2 death."

A Period Of Transition

Andre' S Grindle | Bangor,ME. | 09/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Basically a jazzier retooling of Clarke's "Hideaway"-era
sound highlited by Gregory Hines tap dancing "percussion" on the
tital track opener and the closing "Basically Taps".Stanley's
cover of Mingus's "Goodbye,Pork Pie Hat" embellishes the original
melody so much that it's very hard to tell what it is-the production more like Ben Sidran of the same vintage then anything.Then again that sound permeates most of this album as well notably on the funkiest track "I Wanna Play For Ya'" and
the Police-like "Stories To Tell".The very jazzy "Tradition"
shows Clarke in a rare post-bop setting and overall this is about the closest Stanley Clarke ever came to a fairly straight-ahead jazz album,even if it's still very soulful and electric.
A notable point of reference."