Kenny Clarke
Kenny Clarke was a highly influential if subtle drummer who helped to define bebop drumming. He was the first to shift the time-keeping rhythm from the bass drum to the ride cymbal, an innovation that has been copied and utilized by a countless number of drummers since the early '40s.
Clarke played vibes, piano and trombone in addition to drums while in school. After stints with Roy Eldridge (1935) and the Jeter-Pillars band, Clarke joined Edgar Hayes' Big Band (1937-38). He made his recording debut with Hayes (which is available on a Classics CD) and showed that he was one of the most swinging drummers of the era. A European tour with Hayes gave Clarke an opportunity to lead his own session, but doubling on vibes was a definite mistake! Stints with the orchestras of Claude Hopkins (1939) and Teddy Hill (1940-41) followed and then Clarke led the house band at Minton's Playhouse (which also included Thelonious Monk). The legendary after-hours sessions led to the formation of bop and it was during this time that Clarke modernized his style and received the nickname "Klook-Mop" (later shortened to "Klook") due to the irregular "bombs" he would play behind soloists. A flexible drummer, Clarke was still able to uplift the more traditional orchestras of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald (1941) and the combos of Benny Carter (1941-42), Red Allen and Coleman Hawkins; he also recorded with Sidney Bechet. However after spending time in the military, Clarke stayed in the bop field, working with Dizzy Gillespie's big band and leading his own modern sessions; he co-wrote "Epistrophy" with Monk and "Salt Peanuts" with Gillespie. Clarke spent the late '40s in Europe, was with Billy Eckstine in the U.S. in 1951 and became an original member of the Modern Jazz Quartet (1951-55). However he felt confined by the music and quit the MJQ to freelance, performing on an enormous amount of records during 1955-56.
In 1956 Clarke moved to France where he did studio work, was hired by touring American all-stars and played with Bud Powell and Oscar Pettiford in a trio called the Three Bosses (1959-60). Clarke was co-leader with Francy Boland of a legendary all-star big band (1961-72), one that had Kenny Clarke playing second drums! Other than a few short visits home, Kenny Clarke worked in France for the remainder of his life and was a major figure on the European jazz scene.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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Jazz Milestones: Kenny Clarke, Vol. 8
Kenny Clarke, Cannonball Adderley
Jazz - Erschienen bei 21-Music am 10.10.2013
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Dizzy’n Blue Moon
Jazz - Erschienen bei Dizzy’n Blue TM am 06.08.2020
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Complete 1946-1950 Swing Master Takes
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz Moon am 15.03.2016
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Giants Of Jazz, Vol. 2
Jazz - Erschienen bei Harlem Jazz Records am 18.11.2022
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Jazz Milestones: Kenny Clarke, Vol. 1
Jazz - Erschienen bei 21-Music am 10.10.2013
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The 12 Days of Christmas with Kenny Clarke, Vol. 1
Jazz - Erschienen bei All I Have To Do Is Dream am 15.11.2019
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Jazz Milestones: Kenny Clarke, Vol. 3
Jazz - Erschienen bei 21-Music am 10.10.2013
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The Best Vintage Selection - Kenny Clarke
Jazz - Erschienen bei Retro Music Box am 05.10.2020
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Epistrophy
Kenny Clarke, 52nd Street Boys, The Be-Bop Boys, Eddie Davis, Be Boppers
Pop - Erschienen bei Beat Repeat am 01.11.2020
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Roy Eldridge - The Selection
Roy Eldridge, Kenny Clarke, Pierre Michelot
Jazz - Erschienen bei Vintage Jukebox am 18.06.2020
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Super Tunes
Jazz - Erschienen bei Beat Machine Records am 17.10.2020
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Jazz Cafè Collection (The Jazz Artists Book)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Cruisin Jazz am 09.06.2017
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Jazz Dog Collection (Remastered)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz Dog Records am 25.11.2016
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Jazz Feeling (Original Artist, Original Recordings, Digitally Remastered)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz 2 Jazz Records am 09.09.2016
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Jazz Attitude
Jazz - Erschienen bei A-Jazz Records am 15.04.2016
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The Stars of Jazz
Jazz - Erschienen bei All Time Records am 23.08.2013
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The King of Jazz Story - All Original Recordings - Remastered
Jazz - Erschienen bei Silver Classics Jazz am 29.10.2013
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My Happy Heaven (Remastered)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Underground Inside Records am 11.03.2016
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When the Lights Are Low
Jazz - Erschienen bei Harlem Jazz Records am 03.02.2015
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Jazz & Blues Christmas
Jazz - Erschienen bei Christmas Dreams am 11.11.2014
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