Clark's Last Leap: Sonny Clark, 1961-62

From: WFIU
Series: Night Lights Classic Jazz
Length: 59:03

An hour-long program of jazz, focusing on music recorded by hardbop piano master Sonny Clark in the last year of his life. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Promos

Playing: Clark's Last Leap: Sonny Clark, 1961-62
From: WFIU

Nl-sonny-clark_small Sonny Clark was a hardbop piano master who appeared on a slew of classic late-1950s and early-1960s jazz recordings. Though Clark has garnered a cult following over the years, especially on the heels of saxophonist John Zorn's late-1980s tribute to him, his name is not often found in histories of jazz piano. "Clark's Last Leap" focuses on the recordings that the pianist made in the last 15 months of his life, including selections from Clark's final recording as a leader, the Blue Note LP Leapin' and Lopin'-an album that Jazzwax blogger Marc Myers calls essential "because it provides us with all of Clark's brilliant piano styles in one place-his pensive ballad work, hard bop swinging, soulful funk and Latin-tinged blues." The program also includes music that Clark recorded as a sideman with Dexter Gordon, Stanley Turrentine, Grant Green, and Jackie McLean. Hosted by David Brent Johnson.

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Piece Description

Sonny Clark was a hardbop piano master who appeared on a slew of classic late-1950s and early-1960s jazz recordings. Though Clark has garnered a cult following over the years, especially on the heels of saxophonist John Zorn's late-1980s tribute to him, his name is not often found in histories of jazz piano. "Clark's Last Leap" focuses on the recordings that the pianist made in the last 15 months of his life, including selections from Clark's final recording as a leader, the Blue Note LP Leapin' and Lopin'-an album that Jazzwax blogger Marc Myers calls essential "because it provides us with all of Clark's brilliant piano styles in one place-his pensive ballad work, hard bop swinging, soulful funk and Latin-tinged blues." The program also includes music that Clark recorded as a sideman with Dexter Gordon, Stanley Turrentine, Grant Green, and Jackie McLean. Hosted by David Brent Johnson.