IF THIS BASS COULD ONLY TALK

Clarke2001 hits it right on the head with his assessment of this late 1980.s forgettable album from his manesake, Stanley. Me, I blame what the jazz industry had become at that time. Radio stations were popping up all over the United States pushing what they called "Smooth Jazz" or "The Quiet Storm", the code words for unobtrusive, uninspired easy listening with jazz- like solos. Perhaps this was the only type of music artists like Stanley Clarke could release at the time.

It's not a complete loss, however. The bass solos bookending the album are nice, although I could do without the sound of Gregory Hines' tap shoes used as a rhythm track. And hearing a version of "Lopsy Lu", hidden inside of the track "Workin' Man" was a treat.

Big disappointment from the version of the Mingus' classic "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat". I love that song. It does not deserve the watered down treatment it gets here.