Directory:Kim A. Clarke

New York native Kim Clarke is an African American mother, bassist, composer,bandleader, website developer and educator. She performs alternately on the Acoustic Bass, Electric Upright , 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 she is noted as “at home in the Ron Carter School of HardBop”, “a dynamic Woman in Jazz who supported the intense rhythm of the Henderson group with unsuspected vitality and melodic solo passages..” as electric bassist is noted in the bio of the famed bassist Larry Graham; a great early influence on her playing concept.

Over the years Kim has also toured with international artists such as : George Gruntz , Christy Doran,Fredy Studer,Erika Stucky, Marilyn Mazur, Annie Whitehead and Ursula Dudziak. Her experiences include tours with Joseph Bowie’s Defunkt, National Black Theatre, Yusef Lateef Quartet, Teri Thornton Trio, Bertha Hope Trio, Robert Palmer , Kit McClure Big Band, 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 .

She has performed in England,Iceland,Norway,Sweden,Denmark, Netherlands, Germany,Switzerland,Finland,Lithuania,Slovenia,Czech Republic,Romania,Spain, France,Italy,Sicily, Portugal,Corsica,Sardegna, Greece,Nice,Austria,Ireland, Lichtenstein,Poland, Belgium ,Turkey,Pakistan,Japan,Guyana, Trinidad and Nassau. The vast majority of these locales were traversed in the 1980's as a member of Joseph Bowie's Defunkt "Downtown in the 80's" and 2000-now "Millenium" lineups.

Kim has performed locally with : Harold Ousley ,Jimmy Heath ,George Braith and Space Island,Rashied Ali, Steve Coleman and Five Elements, 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, Evelyn Blakey,Philly Joe Jones, Marylou Williams, Sharon Freeman, Sheila Jordan, Geri Allen, Vanessa Rubin , Cassandra Wilson, Fievre Latina, Adela Dalto,George Gee Big Band, Napoleon Revels Bey, the Ghetto Fighters (background vocalists with Jimi Hendrix),James Chance and the Contortions, poets Ntozake Shange and Trazana Beverly, dancers Mickey Davidson, Tina Pratt,Tracy Mann and Roxanne Butterfly. She recently performed with Johnnie O’Neal "the New Art Tatum" and vocalist Cynthia Soriano.

With the owners of the Jazz (aka Jazz Spot Café), Lillithe Myers and her daughter Tiecha Merritt ,Kim created and produced the “LADY GOT CHOPS Women's Month Jazz Festival” .After the closure of the café in 2009, Kim continued the project with the support of women artists and caring club owners .The grassroots festival has celebrated its 9th year (2011)honoring Women's History Month through the musical contributions of over 150 women. During the Haiti Crisis of 2010 participants collectively donated over $1400 to Doctors Without Borders.Ultimately she envisions mirroring and sharing the type of festival experience she was so blessed to have been a part of overseas.
Ms Clarke is pictured in the female recreation of the famed A Great Day In Harlem photo : The Girls In The Band 2010 ,Mintons Playhouse Jazz Photoshoot 2010,Mike Lockers 2002 New York Jazz Musicians Project, Downtown Jazz Musicians photo (circa 1980's) as well as listed on Ivan Bartowski's Jazz Family Tree Chart.Kim also appears in Marquis Who's Who in Entertainment, Guitar Player (1988)and Bass Player Magazine (91)

Currently she is working on a duo album project and developing a study program, with pianist Bertha Hope and Jazzberry Jam, geared to mentoring Bronx high school girls through Jazz Studies at Womens Academy of Excellence.Prior workshop/teaching experience includes private students most notably Reggie Hamilton, Boys Harbor NY,Feierwerk Jazztage und Blues Werkshop, Munich Germany, Portland State University, Oregon,Reed College,Columbia Basin College and Whitman Colleges Washington State.

Bands led or co-led

Inner Circle Q-tet (raised over $25000 for Bennett College)
Gaiafest All -Stars
Bennett Underground
MAGNETS! Jazz Worldbeat Band
Jamaikit Funky -feel good dance band

Discography

THERMONUCLEAR SWEAT-DEFUNKT(*)
THE RAZOR`S EDGE " " (Europe and US releases)
AVOID THE FUNK " "(*)
IN AMERICA" " "((*)
HEROES " " (*)
LIVE AT THE KNITTING FACTORY"
LIVE AND REUNIFIED" " (*)
CRISIS " "(*)
THIS IS THE FUNK " "(*)
ON THE EDGE " "
CLASSIC DEFUNKT "(*)
KNOW YOUR ENEMY " (*)
DEFUNKT- THE LEGEND CONTINUES " (*)
KNITTING FACTORY GOES TO VASSAR-DEFUNKT
SEMI-PRECIOUS METAL-BIGFOOD(*)
SOULCIETY FUNKY FAMILY-(*)"
DESIGN FOR LIVING -NONA HENDRYX (*)
NIGHT SONGS - BLUE JADE TRIO (*)
BASS TALK-CLARKE,BICKFORD AND DITMAS(*)
BLACK REIGN- QUEEN LATIFAH(*)
BURNING -KIT McCLURE BIG BAND(*)
AUGURIES OF SPEED-POMORIN,JANOURE AND WHITEHEAD(*)
SONGS FROM POKER-KU-UMBA FRANK LACY(*)
SINS WINS AND FUNS- GEORGE GRUNTZ(*)
STRAIGHT TO BLACK-DRAZY HOOPS(*)
GORDON JAMES-GORDON JAMES(*)
THE LOUDER-JULIET DUNN
LIVE AT THE KNITTING FACTORY:DOWNTOWN DOES THE BEATLES(*)DEFUNKT
MODERN AND ANCIENT MOABITES-NAPOLEON REVELS-BEY(*)
THE LEGEND OF DEFUNKT Vol 1
DEFUNKT LIVE IN EUROPE
SWEETHEARTS PROJECT-KIT McCLURE BIG BAND
JUST THE THING-KIT McCLURE BIG BAND
DEFUNKT JOURNEY
DORAN,STUCKY,STUDER,CLARKE "JIMI"

Videography

Oh Boy Babies
Night of the Juggler
Bill Boggs Show
Ohne Filter
Today Show with Dr. Billy Taylor

External links

http://kimclarke.8m.com
http://www.myspace.com/kimclarkeonbass
http://cdbaby.com/cd/magnets
http://youtube.com/2dkoda
http://thejazz.8m.com/fest.html