UP

I've been a long time listener of Stanley Clarke's music. I have pretty much his entire catalogue and have the utmost respect for him as an artist and composer. He is my all time favorite bass player along with Louis Johnson and I have personally I've met Stan on several occasions and even did some work for his label. That being said, this latest collection is not what I consider Stanley's greatest work. The highlights are Pop Vigil and the late great George Duke's Brazillian Love Affair. I was disappointed with School Days, as I thought, there are so many great recorded versions of this, it seems somewhat uninspired, considering it appears to be a copy of the original version. The other cuts although good to very good are not what I would consider great by Stanley Clarke's standards. When you raise the bar as a player and composer as Stan has done , I can imagine it is a tough task to maintain that dynamic of greatness every single collection. I believe when you have an album united by a theme such as Up, it would have worked better if the selections were more similar to Pop Vigil across the spectrum as opposed to the type of mix that was chosen, which was pop, jazz and standards. Addendum: After really really listening to this album very closely, it is and outstanding work, this one had to grow on me a little more, but Stan always does a fantastic job of playing and composing, really worth a listen to!

I REALLY wanted to love this CD. I've been a Stanley fan for 30 years now. Just like any long tIme fan of any group, one looks forward to new material.There were a few good tracks but overall as a CD it was unlively. I dare say it sounds like an old person's album, like the excitement is missing.I don't see the point of redoing SCHOOL DAYS at all if it is like this. The solo was short and boring. Again, like the excitement has dimmed.Maybe it deserves 3 stars but after listening to it in the car about three times I'm already tired of it and have taken the CD out of the changer. Yes, I still prefer CD's over non physical downloads....I miss the excitement of 35 year old Stanley. I know that is a totally unfair statement.

Not as good as other Stanley Clarke albums when taken as a whole, I guess I'm spoiled by Live at the Greek and others through Mr. Clarke's history. He is without question one of the most inventive musicians I have enjoyed in my lifetime. I think new listeners might start elsewhere in his catalog.

theres a sound u hear in your head..and u spend ur life listening out forthe same sound coming from someone else..this is that sound!!!fabulous when that happens..its like meeting the best friend unever thought u had..love it!

A great cd

"UP" with Stanley Clarke is an excellent example of what wonderful music can be performed by the two type of bass he plays. This item means a lot to me because it is dedicated to The Late and Great George Duke. I was blessed to witness "The Clarke-Duke Connection" in 2012 at The John Coltrane Jazz Festival, High Point, NC. I recommend it to both new and old jazz collectors.

Great And Classic Stanley

I have some favorite bass players, but Stanley is in the stratosphere as regards musicianship and COMMUNICATION. Stanley grabs you by your 'spiritual throat' and doesn't let you go until you are floating above it all... and tapping your feet and bobbing your head. Amen amen!

Stanley Clarke just keeps getting better. His prowess on electric is as phenomenal as his acoustic bass playing. The album features deliberate nods to his past (a beautiful duet with former band mate Chick Corea, and a revitalised rendition of his classic track School Days not to mention the high energy reading of his friend George Duke's Brazilian Love Affair). The new compositions are of equally high calibre, especially "Last Train To Sanity" which sounds like something Return to Forever would have recorded.

What a record this is ! The music is superb, the bass playing is out of this world ! All the musicians on this record are top class ! If you like Stanley, just buy this record, you will not be disappointed, this is probably one of his best !

great bass playing from one of the masters of his the instrument

Gift

verry good