Stanley Clarke

I love a variety of music, and therefore often find fusions to be interesting and enjoyable.
For some reason, I particularly like rock fusions, and Stanley Clarke has a unique blend of jazz with a bit of pop, rock, and R&B thrown in that is infectious, irresistible and uniquely his own. He is not the next anyone, and when he came to Birchmere in Alexandria, VA, so close to Washington, DC, I had to take the opportunity to check it out in person.
In the spirit of jazz, the interaction between the musicians was almost like a conversation, with the sounds blending perfectly, but at the same time, watching the artists in the way they moved, played and even their expressions, they seemed to be talking back and forth to one another using their instruments rather than their voices.
I have never seen a performance quite like this, and it was clear that the others in the audience were equally intrigued. It was almost like seeing a music concert and a wordless play at the same time. I got so wrapped up in the music it seemed like the artists were weaving a tale, that I was actually seeing a play rather than just a music concert. This energy was maintained through the entire concert and at the end left me wanting to see more.