A composer, sideman, collaborator, producer, singer, recording artist, educator and bassist… Fernando Saunders a one-man orchestra!

 

His tenure with Lou Reed is a master class in the symphonic powers of the fretless bass in a rock context.  Akin to Sir Paul, Brian Wilson, Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, and Jaco Pastorius – to cite  a select few – Saunders’ approach to the instrument is composition. His bass passages are songs within the songs – employing chord extensions, harmonics, pedal tones, and sustained notes, among other techniques to serve the singer, songs, and melodies. 

 

Fernando has waxed seminal sides with Lou, Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin, and Marianne Faithfull, among others, and his collaborations are numerous. Be sure to check out Fernando’s solo slabs as well which traverse jazz, funk, rock, rhythm & blues, new age, pop, soul and permutations thereof!

 

Fernando Saunders Sound & Vision….

 

Fernando with Lou:

 

“Legendary Hearts” https://youtu.be/Ltk-F6eFfmc

 

“My House” https://youtu.be/Dtiih7wk4uQ

 

“Pow Wow” https://youtu.be/VS5mzCDz2vQ

 

“New Sensations.” https://youtu.be/PrXIoHyfObg

 

Fernando with Jan Hammer and Jeff Beck:

 

“Earth (Still Our Only Home)” https://youtu.be/2i9tEXyDqes

 

Fernando with John McLaughlin and the One Truth Band: “Electric Dreams Electric Sighs” https://youtu.be/18Lnod4TAsY

 

Fernando with Marianne: “Times Square” https://youtu.be/B8CqnKYfNTQ

 

“Live in LA” (Part 1) https://youtu.be/In0_XQfbiyw

 

“Live in LA” (Part 2) https://youtu.be/nDwQrziwW0M

 

Fernando flying solo “I Will Break Your Fall” https://youtu.be/3Cr_WgCxBJE

 

Keep up with all things Fernando:  http://fernandosaunders.net/

 

 

Photo by Mark Polott

By Thomas Semioli

As I was witness, when Stanley Clarke emerged on the national music scene in the early 1970s the electric bass was not yet accepted by the jazz establishment. Perhaps it was because he also played the upright, perhaps it was due to the opened minded rock audiences of the day who gravitated towards electric Miles, Santana, and similar, or maybe the time was right for jazz to wake up to modern technology and young listener

….

Whatever the case, the jazz community paid attention to this Philadelphia whiz kid.  Stanley applied the language of jazz to our instrument like no other before him. Note that Clarke was a product of his times – he was tuned in to Motown, the British Invasion, Philly soul, Muscle Shoals, and early electric jazz. He made no excuses for their influences in his music.  In fact, he celebrated the pomp and circumstance of pop music – both on record and on stage.  He was a star electric bassist – and remains so to this day.

 

In addition to his unparalleled technique and rhythmic and harmonic virtuosity as both an accompanist and soloist, and a prolific composer – Stanley fervently incorporated the languages of rhythm & blues, soul, funk, disco, and rock into to the jazz lexicon. By “legitimizing” those previously marginalized genres in a jazz context, Clarke profoundly changed American music – making it more inclusive, and more representative of the population.

 

Stanley’s canon, spanning his early days with Return to Forever to his extensive work in film soundtracks, to his innumerable collaborations are all worthy of exploration. He’s been cited by the Grammys, Bass Player, Downbeat, and various learning institutions with piles of achievement awards and honorary doctorates.  While we’re at it, Stanley Clarke is long overdue for Kennedy Center honors.

 

Stanley paved the way for Jaco, Victor Wooten, John Patitucci, Christian McBride, Marcus, Tal, Esperanza and all the jazz lions and lionesses of the instrument who follow.  Rock bass icons including Chris Squire and Paul McCartney (who worked with Stanley) revere him.

 

As long as the electric bass exists on the bandstand and in the studio, players will debate who is the GOAT.  Fact: Stanley can carry the GOAT title in his back pocket!

 

He is the cat who kicked the door open to the evolution of instrument as we now know it. And he continues to celebrate the traditional role of the bass…

 

The most important electric bass player of all time? My vote goes to Stanley Clarke….

 

Stanley Clarke Electric Sound & Vision…

 

Solo Stanley:

“Journey to Love” https://youtu.be/w0QR-ZFs8FM

 

“Silly Putty” https://youtu.be/fVoGJ0FKttQ 

 

“Lopsy Lu” https://youtu.be/rF4Y3uWKxvo

 

“School Days” https://youtu.be/dDveBbJkVqo

 

“Hello Jeff” with Jeff Beck https://youtu.be/h8eQCNiGuaw

 

“The Dancer” https://youtu.be/-1fCBRc2DAs

 

“Pop Virgil” https://youtu.be/adHsJPzuHzQ

 

Return to Forever: “Space Circus” https://youtu.be/gdsK9YIf3U4

 

Paul McCartney: “Somebody Who Cares” https://youtu.be/miemM-xFqWw

 

George Duke: “Louie Louie” https://youtu.be/XVfp-9lopKY

 

SMV at Montreal Jazz Festival 2012 https://youtu.be/qrXmblp9EBo

 

Keith Richards & Ronnie Wood New Barbarians https://youtu.be/FW8oAtBotI8

 

He anchored the first and most influential of many incarnations of John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra.

 

However before Rick Laird assumed rock star status on electric bass with the classic lineup of McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer, and Jerry Goodman – he was an upright player who served as the house bassist at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London in the early 1960s. Rick backed many of most revered artists of the era, including Sonny Stitt, Buddy Rich, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Chick Corea, and Wes Montgomery to cite a few. Rick’s credits as a sideman also include Eric Koss, Yusef Lateef, and Richie Cole.

 

A student at Berklee College of Music in Boston, the Dublin-born Laird’s fluid lines, warm tone, and tuneful solo break on “One Word” from the classic Birds of Fire (1973) album exemplified fusion at its finest – melding rock and jazz into a coherent, mind expanding listening experience – as opposed to a serving as a showy platform to display instrumental dexterity.

 

Among Rick’s voltage enhanced weapons of choice were the Fender Jazz, S.D. Curlee, and Dan Armstrong. Aside from his accomplishments as a musician, Rick forged a successful career as a photographer.

 

Rick Laird Sound & Vision….

 

“One Word” https://youtu.be/GWT6xt6QMpQ

 

“Now You Know” https://youtu.be/FQHNabnyyuM

 

Rick on BBC TV with the Victor Feldman Trio https://youtu.be/LLwvdv5oWVw