Each one teach one. For drummer Mike Clark it was his father, a railroad switch man and jazz drummer, who bought his son his first drum set when he was Four years old. Growing up in Oakland, California Mike developed his skills to the point of making his first recordings with pianist Vince Guaraldi, and working constantly alongside his good friend, bassist Paul Jackson.
In. 1973, Jackson joined Herbie Hancock's Headhunters band. When drummer Harvey Mason left, Clark found himself behind the kit, touring the world and recording with the Headhunters, adding those funk full beats, and straight ahead, swing and R&B groves to whatever the occasion needed.
Over the years those rhythms would work with Tony Bennett, Chet Baker, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Eddie Henderson, Michael Wolff and countless others.
Itai Doshin is a Buddhist phrase meaning "many in body, one in mind." The collective mind here features Patrice Rushen on piano and Fender Rhodes, trumpeter Eddie Henderson, bassist Henry Franklin and saxophonist Craig Handy. There's a searing version of Monk's "Epistrophy" (Clark's theme song), Eddie Henderson's gorgeous trumpet on a quiet "Cherokee", a fabulous encounter on "I Shot The Sheriff" and much more.
WBGO's "Daybreak" host Gary Walker spoke with Mike Clark about his latest release.
Clark talked about his brush work on the album and his collaboration with 2026 NEA Jazz Master and pianist Patrice Rushen.
You can hear a track on WBGO each weekday morning @ 8:20, another feature made possible by the members of WBGO.
Gary and Mike talked about Clark's upcoming biography.
You can SEE Gary Walker's entire conversation with Mike Clark below:
