Stanley Clarke

The 73-year-old Clarke was a pioneer in the world of jazz. Making a name for himself in 1976 as a jazz fusion bassist, he is still going strong. So to see him at this venue with the Philadelphia skyline serving as the backdrop, it may be a bucket lister for some.

Clarke was a founding member of Return to Forever, one of the first jazz fusion bands. Clarke gave the bass guitar a prominence it lacked in jazz-related music. He is the first jazz-fusion bassist to headline tours, sell out shows worldwide and have recordings reach gold status.

Clarke is the recipient of five Grammy Awards, with 15 nominations, three as a solo artist, one with the Stanley Clarke Band, and one with Return to Forever. Clarke was selected as a 2022 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship.

A Stanley Clarke electric bass is permanently on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.