New York native,Kim A.Clarke,is a parent,bassist,composer,bandleader,
website developer, educator and earring designer.
She performs alternately on the Acoustic Bass, Electric Upright , four and
five-stringed Electric Bass Guitar as the situation demands.
Career
As an acoustic bassist Kim traveled most notably with the late
Joe Henderson Quartet (1986-7) throughout Europe. Internationally she is noted as
“at home in the Ron Carter School of HardBop”, “a dynamic Woman in Jazz who supported
the intense rhythm of the Henderson group with unsuspected vitality and melodic solo passages..”
as electric bassist is noted in the bio of the famed bassist Larry Graham; a great early influence on her
playing concept.As an electric bassist she has toured most extensively with Joseph Bowie's Defunkt
Downtown in the 80's and Millenium Lineups
She has performed with : Art Blakey, Marylou Williams,Bertha Hope,Harold Ousley ,Jimmy Heath,Leon Thomas,Sun Ra,Sam Rivers,
George Braith and Space Island,Rashied Ali,Junior Cooke,Ed Pazant,Rahn Burton,Clifford Jordan,Richard Williams,Tommy Turrentine,Gilly Coggins,Charles Sullivan,Marvin Bugalu Smith,
Steve Coleman and Five Elements,Andy Bey, Louis Hayes, Gerald Hayes, Lionel Hampton,Ed Stoute, Tootsie Bean,Arturo O'Farrill,Ray McKinley,
Donald Byrd,Donald Blackman,Candido, Patato, Little Jimmy Scott, Dr. Billy Taylor, Olu Dara, Screamin Jay Hawkins,Cindy Blackman, Marilyn Mazur,Stephanie Chapman,
Gracian Moncur, Philly Joe Jones,Sharon Freeman,Geri Allen,Johnny O’Neal,Paula Hampton,Charles Tolliver,David Durrah,Ellis the Nazarean,
and vocalists: Evelyn Blakey,Dakota Staton, Sarah Vaughn,Sheila Jordan,Teri Thornton,Sister Mekea Keith,Antoinette Montague, Nikita White,Louise Bethune, Mary Wormworth,Judy Bady,JennJade Ledesna,Teri Davis,Cynthia Soriano,
Vanessa Rubin ,Cassandra Wilson,Adela Dalto:George Gee Big Band,Jaki Byard and the Apollo Stompers,Charlie Bryd Big Band,Lester Bowie and Brass Fantasy, Napoleon Revels Bey,Jean-Paul Bourelly
the Ghetto Fighters (background vocalists with Jimi Hendrix),James Chance and the Contortions,Victor Jones and Black Velvet, poets
Sekou Sundiata,Ntozake Shange and Trazana Beverly, dancers: Mickey Davidson, Tina Pratt,Tracy Mann and Roxanne Butterfly.
In 2017 she toured China,performing with Mark Zhu,Chuangye Liu,Ronnie Burrage and Wayne Esscofery @ the Dalian University of the Arts and the new
Beijing Blue Note.She participated in the Black Girls Rock Orchestra of 2016.
Prior to the Covid 19 pandemic Kim hosted the Jazz Foundation Jam session @ Local 802 for seven years.Post pandemic the Jazz Foundation and Steve Jordan hosted a tribute to Charlie Parker :"BIRD CALLS",Highlights of 2019 musical collaborations include
performing with Bertha Hope's Elmo Hope Project for the 28th Annual Jazz Foundation of America Loft Party, Lady Leah, Sage,Debbie Knapper,
Felicia Collins's tribute to Marvin Gaye @ Prospect Park
bandshell for the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn Festival
Her touring experiences include work with the Yusef Lateef Quartet,
National Black Theatre,The Are and Be Ensemble,
Teri Thornton Trio, Bertha Hope Trio, Robert Palmer ,Kit McClure Big Band, Rachel Z Trio,
Bigfood, Wallace Roney and Cindy Blackman Quartet,Rhonda Ross-Kendrick,Oliver Lake and Jump Up, James Blood Ulmer Experience,
Jack Mc Duff Quartet, Rodney Kendricks Quartet, Jazzberry Jam .
As Educator
Kim has been a member of Mickey Davidson's Dance Rhythm Dance Troupe
and Napoleon Revels-Bey Educational Ensembles
which bring history of Dance and Jazz to numerous schools in the NY area.
She has also collaborated on developing a study program, with pianist
Bertha Hope and company through the Jazz Foundation of America geared to mentorship of Bronx high school girls
through Jazz Studies at
Womens Academy of Excellence and other schools.Prior workshop/teaching experience includes private students most notably
Reggie Hamilton,and at venues such as: Boys Harbor NY,Guitar Institute of Technology,London,
Feierwerk Jazztage und Blues Werkshop, Munich Germany, Portland State University, Oregon,Reed College,
Columbia Basin College and Whitman Colleges Washington State.
Early background
Kim attended Catholic Grammar and High Schools to which she attributes a strong educational
foundation. Her parents saw to it that she traveled and bonded with family in the
rural South & internationally in the Armed Forces.These early blessed travel experiences
prepared her for her future life's path.Having grow up in the 1960s she witnessed much turmoil.
Her mother had taken her to the 1963 March on Washington where she witnessed Martin Luther King's
I Have A Dream speech. She also crossed paths with Malcolm X and Minister Farrakhan as neighbors
in her early childhood.
Music Education
She holds B.A.'s in Communications and Music from City College and Long Island University respectively, and is a 3- time recipient of
the coveted N E A Jazz Study Fellowship; under the tutelage of Bass Masters Ron Carter, Buster Williams and Lisle Atkinson respectively.
Ms Clarke is also a long-time student of the Jazzmobile and
Barry Harris Workshops and continues her formal studies with the wisdom gained therein. She was also
a member of Harris' Jazz Cultural Theatre's house band for the famed Art Blakey Breakfast Jam.
LADY GOT CHOPS Women's History Month Music and Arts Festival Inc
With the owners of the Jazz (aka Jazz Spot Café), Lillithe Myers and her daughter
Tiecha Merritt ,Kim created and produced the “LADY GOT CHOPS Women's Month Jazz Festival” .
After the closure of the café in 2009, Kim continued the project with the support of women
artists and caring club owners .The grassroots festival celebrated its 14th year (2016)
honoring Women's History Month through the musical contributions of over 200 women. During
the Haiti Crisis of 2010 participants collectively donated over $1400 to Doctors Without Borders.
The 10th Annual Festival honored Cobi Narita, Wendy Oxenhorn and the owners of the Jazz Spot Cafe,
Lilithe Meyers and Tiecha Merritt.
2019 Queens Arts Fund Award BY Queens Council On The Arts with public funds from the NYC Departmnet of
Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council,
2018 Trailblazing Women and Arts Institutions Award by Rhythmcolor Associates 2017 Jazz Impact Award by Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium
2015 Jazz Heroes Award by the Jazz Journalists Assn., 2014 Bean Runner Festival Founders Award,2013
Central Brooklyn Jazz Foundation Founders Award,2012 Women's Academy of Excellence Philanthropic Award,
2010 Banana Pudding Jazz Golden Chekere Award,
2010 Women's Academy Of Excellence Community Service Award,2008 New York State Assembly Certificate of Merit and Certificate of Congressional recognition
in recognition of outstanding service to the community,2008 Elmcor's EAA Satchmo award for Music/Entertainment, 1995 Special Recognition Bennett College Alumni
Ms Clarke is pictured in the female recreation of the famed A Great Day In Harlem photo :
The Girls In The Band 2008 ,Minton's Playhouse Jazz Photo shoot 2010,Mike Lockers 2002 New York Jazz
Musicians Project, Downtown Jazz Musicians photo (circa 1980's) as well as listed on Ivan Bartowski's
Jazz Family Tree Chart.Kim also appears in Marquis Who's Who in Entertainment, Guitar Player
(1988)and Bass Player Magazine (91)
Itinerary
England,Iceland,Norway,Sweden,Denmark, Russia, Netherlands,Germany,Switzerland,
Finland,Lithuania,Slovenia,Czech Republic,Romania,Spain,France,Italy,Sicily, Serbia, Portugal,Corsica,Monaco,
Sardegna,San Sebastian, Greece,Nice,Austria,Aland Ireland, Liechtenstein,Poland, Belgium , Turkey,Pakistan,Japan,Guyana,
Trinidad,Nassau,South Korea and China
Bands led or co-led:
Inner Circle Q-tet (raised over $25000 for Bennett College)
AWOL Angels With Outstanding Lawyers
Gaiafest All -Stars
Bennett Underground MAGNETS! Jazz Worldbeat Band
Jamaikit Funky -feel good dance band AQUA NINJAZ DYNAMIC MUSIQUE TRIBUTE ENSEMBLECurrently her newest project is "Kim Clarke and Digology Crew", which had its maiden voyage in May 2021.
Discography
THERMONUCLEAR SWEAT-DEFUNKT(*)
THE RAZOR`S EDGE " " (Europe and US releases)
AVOID THE FUNK " "(*)
IN AMERICA" " "((*)
HEROES " " (*)
LIVE AT THE KNITTING FACTORY"
LIVE AND REUNIFIED" " (*)
CRISIS " "(*)
THIS IS THE FUNK " "(*)
LIVE AT CHANNEL ZERO" "(*)
THE CLEANSING Live Recording Eu Tour 2017""(*)
ON THE EDGE " "
CLASSIC DEFUNKT "(*)
KNOW YOUR ENEMY " (*)
DEFUNKT- THE LEGEND CONTINUES " (*)
KNITTING FACTORY GOES TO VASSAR-DEFUNKT
SEMI-PRECIOUS METAL-BIGFOOD(*)
SOULCIETY FUNKY FAMILY-(*)"
DESIGN FOR LIVING -NONA HENDRYX (*)
NIGHT SONGS - BLUE JADE TRIO (*)
BASS TALK-CLARKE,BICKFORD AND DITMAS(*)
BLACK REIGN- QUEEN LATIFAH(*)
BURNING -KIT McCLURE BIG BAND(*)
AUGURIES OF SPEED-POMORIN,JANOURE AND WHITEHEAD(*)
SONGS FROM POKER-KU-UMBA FRANK LACY(*)
SINS WINS AND FUNS- GEORGE GRUNTZ(*)
STRAIGHT TO BLACK-DRAZY HOOPS(*)
GORDON JAMES-GORDON JAMES(*)
THE LOUDER-JULIET DUNN
LIVE AT THE KNITTING FACTORY:DOWNTOWN DOES THE BEATLES(*)DEFUNKT
MODERN AND ANCIENT MOABITES-NAPOLEON REVELS-BEY(*)
THE LEGEND OF DEFUNKT Vol 1
DEFUNKT LIVE IN EUROPE
SWEETHEARTS PROJECT-KIT McCLURE BIG BAND
JUST THE THING-KIT McCLURE BIG BAND
DEFUNKT JOURNEY
DORAN,STUCKY,STUDER,CLARKE "JIMI"
SPIRIT GUIDES/TRUTH & LOVE MUSIC-RONNIE BURRAGE
