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 & 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,Zeke Mullins, Bernard Wright, 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 had the honor of performing online with Miki Yamanaka's 75th Miki's Mood Home Concert June 2022

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",(56:44)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, guitarists :Tim Siciliano, Sheryl Bailey,Marvin Horne,Bruce Edwards,Jean-Paul Bourelly, Kelvyn Bell ,Debbie Knapper, and Rocco Zifarelli as well as in Felicia Collins's tribute to Marvin Gaye @ Prospect Park bandshell for the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn Festival, 2021 the first Sugar Hill Jazz Festival participant, Kim Clarke Quintet @ Jazz by The Water on Governor's Island

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.

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.






































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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, Lillithe Meyers and Tiecha Merritt.We honor the heavenly transition of Lillithe Meyers 2021


Here are some videoed highlights from March 2019 the 17 Annual LADY GOT CHOPS Women's History Month Music & Arts Festival held at Flushing Town Hall
2021 has heralded changes but the festival remains a voluntary labor of love in memory of Kim's mother who dedicated so much of her life to uplifting women thru educational opportunity.
The 20th Annual LADY GOT CHOPS fest calendar-online and digital March 2022
Ultimately Kim envisions mirroring and sharing the type of festival experience she was so blessed to have been a part of overseas.


Honors:


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




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

Video Links at Fandalism.com

Film appearances:
Oh Boy Babies
Night of the Juggler
Bill Boggs Show
Ohne Filter
Today Show with Dr. Billy Taylor
Rising Tones Cross with Billy Bang


MEMBER LOCAL 802,INTERNATIONAL WOMEN IN JAZZ,CHAMBER MUSIC OF AMERICA,BENNETT COLLEGE,CCNY AND LIU ALUMNAE