Stanley Clarke

Stanley Clarke’s claim to fame has always been his acoustic and electric bass-playing prowess within the jazz category. Yet, it was always his ability to redefine the confines of the genre by exploring related fields —groundbreaking fusion with Chick Corea, funk with George Duke, rock with Jeff Beck, world music and soundtrack work — that distinguished him from the pack. This all-night celebration, doubling as a fund-raiser for Clark’s own youth-boosting Musician’s Institute Scholarship Fund, features too many names to list but ably demonstrates Clarke’s outstanding versatility and pioneering vision. From traditional jazz to blistering fusion, Clarke’s team tosses Bela Fleck, Marcus Miller, Stewart Copeland, Stevie Wonder and Flea into the mix for a class that would’ve made school more appetising. From the 22-member string orchestra to a ten-bassist grand finale jamming on "School Days,” plus insightful interviews, Night School is a worthy showcase for the legendary musician who transformed the art of playing bass into a commercial proposition as well as an art form.