Stanley Clarke Quotations

Bass players are always the intellectual kind, but nobody knows it.

After all my years of doing instrumental music I still like just a simple instrumental song with a nice catchy melody and an opportunity to play a solo over a harmonic structure.

Scientology is probably one of the most misunderstood things, and it's sad that it's so misunderstood.

The point is, technology has empowered so many musicians, you know?

There are few words in the music business or in art that I'll say people or some writers are overgenerous with words like 'legend' or 'genius', 'he's a pioneer' and all of that.

I don't think a guy that really has no understanding about people, or has no interest in understanding people would make a good film composer.

I felt like I was trailblazing. And that's what I did.

You can actually go to school and college to learn how to play and get technical with the electric bass.

I actually think that bass is probably the instrument that has evolved in a quantum leap compared to other instruments. It's the instrument that's evolved the most, especially with how it's perceived. And even how it's played, and how it's viewed from a point of view of commerce, like with the music industry.

When you win a Grammy, it links a certain prestige and importance to you, you know? People want to talk to you.

I really like sometimes to do action pictures; I get a really big kick out of doing those.

It's very difficult sometimes having bands, you know, when all the members aren't on the same page.

You can disseminate your art, and it's all such easy access now. The upside to it is that more people are creating than ever before.

I think I've done more recording in the past 10 years than most people, but it's all been directed toward film composing and soundtracks. Just the same, it's been great.

Usually, when I do a soundtrack, the music from the movie doesn't have anything to do with me personally. It's music to enhance to the film. My own stuff is more introspective and about what's on going in my head.

Maya Angelou is a very prolific writer. You can read her stuff down once and sort of walk away, but if you really want to get the richness of what she is saying you have to check it out a couple of times.

I feel very honored that I got a chance to work with Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey.

We had these huge amplifiers, and the band's energy level was just astounding. I recently saw a picture taken near the gig of myself, John McLaughlin and Tony sitting on this rock. God, we were so young. It's the only time that the three of us were together.

After my last solo album in '93, I got heavily into the film-composing thing. I didn't really have much to say... I was going through a divorce at that point, and to be quite honest, I really wasn't in the mood for making a CD then.

It was kind of cool to be able to go back and listen to what it was that I was doing during a particular time in my career.

He's probably the most interesting musician I've met in the last 10 years. You can write anything for him, and he can play it.

George is a great combination of science and soul, I've never forgotten where I come from. This is my home.

The main thing that everyone was looking for in selecting which songs would go on this anthology were the ones in which the bass was really prominent.

I called the great French violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and I said 'So, who's the new cat? Who's got the stuff? And he said Zach Brock.

I live a different way today. I have a family, and they are a priority for me. These days, I no longer wake up in the morning and worry if my bass is tuned properly and practice for hours and hours on end. I don't perform as much, but when I do, there's such magic to working in front of a live audience.

Surrounding myself with people I enjoy being with made the sessions effortless. Everyone came prepared and ready to play. All were great musicians and they came to the studio to give everything they had.

I think my favorite for music and spirit is Ray Gomez.

Ray Gomez is truly an unsung hero in American music.