ROCKS, PEBBLES AND SAND

Stanley Clarke is one of the major bass players in jazz rock and jazz fusion world in last almost 40 years. Almost everywhere he played over the years , on his solo albums, in some projects, he has so many, he always bring the listner something intristing and above all not boring, at least for me. So far I've reviewed one of his famous albums School daysand I was not very impressed, ok was a good album for sure, but nothing that make me listen over and over like for ex Return to Forever - Romantic warrior (whre he does a fabulos job). Now I will review his seventh studio album from 1980 named Rock, pebbles and sand released at Epic records. If the music is ok to my ears, here is the same jazz rock like on previous works but with some changes of course, is the turn of a new decade, the '80's and the progressive rock and jazz rock musicians and bands didn't have suny days on the market. Each musician tries to come with something new, sometimes they succeded sometimes they don't. In this case Stanley Clarke incorporates in his jazz rock-fusion arrangemnts some soul elements, some funky chops and even on couple of tracks we can hear some hard rock arrangements like on opening track called Danger Street, is ok but a little strange knowing Clark as a fusio player, anyway this piese sounds like Whitesnake with out same complex bass arrangements, ok tune after all. For some listners this is a deseppointing album, but to me has the same level with School days, even the voice of Stanly is not something great, but not really bad either, some of the critics already jump at him when he was release the album because he pulls the album ina total diffrent direction then his usual style. Anyway I like the album I will give easy 3 stars, not a bad one as many complained. A good jazz rock album with some more rougher edge in places but also combined with his traditional elemenst from previous albums, jazz rock, some soul moments with female -male vocal duets and some funky jazz arrangemenst that worth to be heard from time to time. Pleasent album and great cover art aswell.