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
Discography
179 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year from Kenny Clarke, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by White Christmas on 6/12/2023
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Little Jazz Birds, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by Nightbird on 13/09/2019
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Jazz Legends
Jazz - Released by Grand Hits Records on 17/01/2014
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Auditory Arrangement
Kenny Clarke, Cannonball Adderley
Jazz - Released by genius vs. genius musica on 20/05/2014
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Jazzmatic by Kenny Clarke, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by Afternoon In Paris on 5/02/2016
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Jazzmatic by Kenny Clarke, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Afternoon In Paris on 15/01/2016
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
The Best Of Christmas Holidays (Fantastic Relaxing Songs) (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Nueva Era Recordings on 1/12/2016
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Me Myself and My Songs (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Underground Inside Records on 24/06/2016
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Listen My Shuffle (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Underground Inside Records on 8/07/2016
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
THE SHOW MUST GO ON with Kenny Clarke, Vol. 02
Jazz - Released by Unchained Melody on 14/07/2015
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
THE SHOW MUST GO ON with Kenny Clarke, Vol. 01
Jazz - Released by Unchained Melody on 16/06/2015
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Jazz And The City With Kenny Clarke
Jazz - Released by Bluetone Jazz Records on 12/05/2015
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Lifeworks - Kenny Clarke (The Platinum Edition) Pt. 1
Jazz - Released by Night & day on 19/05/2015
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Jazz & Limousines by Kenny Clarke
Jazz - Released by Jazz & Limousines on 3/03/2015
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Jazz & Limousines by Kenny Clarke
Jazz - Released by Jazz & Limousines on 3/03/2015
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Greetings from the Past (Card 2)
Jazz - Released by Hound Dog on 27/08/2013
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Greetings from the Past (Card 1)
Jazz - Released by Hound Dog on 13/08/2013
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
I Dig You the Most
Jazz - Released by Hot Club 2013 on 25/12/2013
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -