Precious Joy is
Steve Clarke's fourth release as a leader.
Clarke, who is also a jazz educator, plays six-string Modulus bass and offers his listeners a natural blend of funky grooves, smooth melodies, and jazz improvisations that have continued to construct his signature sound. He and his bandmates consume your aural senses on 11 original compositions, evoking his observations as a musician, educator, and composer. His bass techniques are somewhat influenced by and similar to those of
Stanley Clarke,
Marcus Miller, and
Brian Bromberg, in that he uses the same tuning and some of the dramatic sequences, including artistic thumping and slapping the side of the instrument, that these artists helped to innovate. However, with
Precious Joy,
Steve Clarke definitely shows off his musical growth as a composer. New songs such as "Um Hum...Yes," "Drumz-n-Bass," and "Funky Swing Interlude" capture a more of a smooth urban groove than his previous releases. Altogether, this recording is a potent flow of smooth and funky jazz that is sure to garner
Steve Clarke more fans around the world. ~ Paula Edelstein