Customer Reviews

The Toys of Men

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Bassist Stanley Clarke's solo career has been notoriously inconsistent-- with lucrative film scoring consuming much of his time and a tendency towards (not necessarily bad) smooth jazz sounds, his works can be frustrating and it can feel as though the jaw-dropping virtuoso performances he brings don't quite get matched. So with each new record, it's always a question-- r&b-laced smooth jazz or funk fusion? In the case of "The Toys of Men", it seems to be something entirely different, an unusual mix between fusion and acoustic jazz and one of the more satisfying albums in Clarke's catalog.

Performed by a core quintet featuring Clarke on any number of basses, Ruslan Sirota on keyboards, Mads Tolling on violin, Jef Lee Johnson on guitar and Ronald Bruner, Jr. behind the drum kit, with guest spots by vocalist Esperanza Spalding, guitaristts Tomer Shtein and Michael Landau, keyboardist Phil Davis and percussionist Paulinho da Costa, the album finds an unusual mix of electric and acoustic. A good example is the opening extended title suite-- it opens sounding like it takes a page out of the Mahavishnu Orchestra book, chugging fusion driven by a superb, rolling bass line from Clarke and a frantic statemetn by Tolling. But once you get comfortable with it, it gives way to a gentle acoustic passage, featuring a building melody and wordless vocals by Spalding and closes with a gentle, hopeful, upper register electric bass solo over a gentle piano and drum accompaniment. In fact, while Clarke has shown more virtuoso performances over the years, I dare say this is his most sensitive, emotive and in many ways powerful playing.

The remainder of the album is a mix of different sounds, split between ensemble pieces (where Clarke often plays an acoustic bass guitar) and brief solo acoustic bass (violin) performances. The ensemble pieces are a nice mix, from a pair of superb fusion workouts with absolutely staggering slap bass workouts that could have been lifted straight off of School Days in "Come On" and "Bad *sses" (the latter in particular, as a duet between Clarke and drummer Bruner, provides an opportunity for some serious pyrotechnics) to gentler, more lyrical pieces ("Jerusalem", featuring some fantastic acoustic bass guitar performance from Clarke, the achingly beautiful ensemble piece "La Cancion de Sofia", featuring a simply lovely arco melody statement from Clarke on upright). Along the way, Clarke also drifts into deep funk ("Game", with another jaw-dropping slap bass performance), a pleasant-but-not-terribly-exciting smooth jazz piece (Spalding vocal feature "All Over Again") and a tribute to drummer Tony Williams in the loping drum feature "Chateauvallon 1972".

The bass violin solo pieces are generally all of the same form-- brief, pizzicato performances that provide Clarke an opportunity to show a side of himself that has been fairly recessed in term of considering his legacy. He shows a fairly extensive technique (the extended "El Bajo Negro" is the best example of this), a well developed woody tone, and a propensity for percussive attacks (as illustrated on "Back in the Woods"). Closer "Bass Folk Song No. 6" breaks the pattern by being gentle and lyrical and probably the most satisfying of the five solo upright performances.

For some reason, I keep thinking that "The Toys of Men" is one of those records that I'll end up sticking up on a shelf and not listening to, but I can't put my finger on why. It's a consistently satisfying, engaging and entertaining record, and since I'm really enjoying it.

The virtuoso bassist Stanley Clarke examines the emotional sweep of war in the Middle East on this studio recording.
"The Toys of Men" also includes acoustic bass interludes that provide a stirring counterpoint to Clarke's more well known fiery electric bass attack.
Clarke has always been a phenomenal bass player but, in a high-level journeyman career since then, he has written a ton of TV and film scores (everything from "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" to "Boyz in the Hood") and clearly kept his bass chops alive and well.
Clarke found international fame with Chick Corea's "Return to Forever" before landing his own solo deal in the early 1970s.
One of the pioneers of the "slap" bass technique, Clarke's latest release is described as a "masterpiece" by Billboard magazine, themed with the stupidity and futility of war and including an 11-minute title track
As a composer and band leader, he is a restless animal on this disc, shifting from mood to mood, texture to texture. But Clarke the bass player is in constant evidence, as soulful, songful and rippingly virtuosic as ever.
This disc is a sudden, surprising and admirable reminder that Stanley Clarke, at 56, is still out there and able to get your attention.
Also it is a showcase of amazing musicianship, encompassing straight-up fusion and funk, to softer edges and longer thematic passages.
On this unusual and challenging offering, Stanley Clarke is joined by Paulinho Da Costa (percussion), Esperanza Spalding on vocals, Jef Lee Johnson (guitar), Michael Landau (guitar - acoustic and electric), drummer Ronald Brumer, Jr., guitarist Tomer Shtein, keyboardist Ruslan Sirota, and violinist Mads Tolling.
Clarke uses the opening collection of connected themes to take off from an earlier song called "Toys" that he recorded with drummer (and former RTF member) Lenny White in a project they called Vertú.
Hear him play solo, though, on his own "Bass Folk Song No. 6" and "Back in the Woods", and you know that his is a talent that cries out to be in the company of absolute peers. Still, what a pleasure it is to hear a big, ambitious Stanley Clarke disc again.
Stanley Clarke is a genius and an amazing bass player although (the track "Jerusalem") is a little bit long, but it has a nice melody. The facility displayed by Stanley Clarke and his team is astounding, as they rip through counterpoint and unison lines, making all the unconventional shifts sound completely organic.
I am hugely impressed by the technique and the fine sound. There was an awful lot going on for the musicians. Of course, technology helps that but they are major league players, you can hear that.
It's very very impressive.
It's astounding.
It's brilliant.
It marks Stanley's return to his trademark slapping bass chops and to his legendary recordings' standard.
Album's highlights : the bluesy two-minutes "Hmm Hmm", the adventurous "El Bajo Negro", "Châteauvallon 1972" and "Jerusalem".

This may very well be Stanley Clarke's finest album to date. Although the album displays a variety of styles each track is superb. Beginning with the title track which begins with a Fusion feel and eventually transitions into a more traditional Jazz sound. All Over Again is a vocal track written and sang by Esperanza Spalding that is so good it should be given air play. Clarke has a few solo tracks with just him and a Victor Bailey acoustic bass and these are the reasons I say he raises the bar. Two of them are a Blues laiden solo where you can feel the emotion and intensity conveyed by Clarke through his instrument. Another is a Flemingo influenced solo where Clarke explodes toward the end with a frenzy of slaps and chords that had me wondering if I just heard what I thought I did, it was incredible. Another incredible track is just him and the drummer doing an electrifying Funk aruption. Another track which is a more traditional Jazz offering but features Clarke's ability with a bow. The entire album is just a spectacular showcase of Stanley Clarke's virtuoso mastering of the bass guitar. And you can't forget to mention the talented musicians on this album who supports him in this outstanding piece of work. The Toys of Men should become Clarke's new definitive album unseating School Days from i'ts many decades on that throne.

Stanley Clarke is a bass legend. He is arguably the greatest bass player of all-time. And his newest CD release, 'The Toys of Men,' released last October, is just amazing.

I saw him in June and he is quite the showman. I think he was promoting his CD. Either that or his 'Night School' DVD. Anyhow, the title track is the way to start a record. 11+ minutes of great bass hooks and great musicianship.

The highlight for me is 'Bad A**es,' which is, in my opinion, one of his best songs. I think it would have sounded great on some of his '70s records, like 'School Days,' 'I Wanna Play for You,' and his self-titled record. But, it fits perfectly here, too.

All and all, this is an excellent addition to any jazz or fusion collection. This is his first record that really takes you back to his 1970s-early 1980s days. Highly recommended for any jazz, fusion or rock fan.

ENJOY!!!

It is very common place in the past decade to have to wait a very long time for Stanley Clarke to put out new material. And the wait between this and his last album 1, 2, To the Bass pretty much fits the bill. 'The Toys Of Men' is one of those albums that sounds like it was made for the pleasure of every kind of Stanley Clarke fan-there are bombastic fusion excersises,some funky numbers and a good helping of electric and acoustic bass solos.My personal opinion is that too many of them ring somewhat hollow.For one,this recording features somewhat obscure musicians and they all tend to rely on creating a certain sound rather then writing clever compositions for them,so at best some of this sounds like Journey to Love or even his debut Children of Forever without the same level of compositional flare. I've only listened to this album twice and so far nothing has really leaped out at me as overly spellbinding or even memorable.But it all sounds very good so I suppose it did accomplish it's mission.

this is such a wonderful, though nowadays altogether too infrequent offering from Stanley Clarke. Welcome and a pure pleasure. If I had any expectations of Stanley, they were met and exceeded. his sound has expanded over the years and that is a great sign that he has not sat and atrophied in his long period since his last album. I ordered and enjoyed this as soon as a sample hit my ears in a store.

It was a totally excellent choice along with S.M.V. If they were vinyl, I'd be wearing out the grooves enjoying myself.

It's difficult for me to write and listen to Stanley. I get all caught up in the moment, in short this is a joy, and a wonderment...

Stanley puts all his talent and heart in this album. Just listen to the first song and you can tell where SC come from. When someone is able to come up with and 11 minutes song combining the sound of Jazz, soul and Classical, topped with a solo bass as a finale, only then you will discover where Stanley Clarke comes from.
If you are a Stanley Clarke fan, "Toys of men" probably rates among his best work so far; if you are new to SC's sound, then you can't go wrong buying this album.
Highly recommended by an old fan

This disc starts out with avery good song approximately eleven minutes long.It is all downhill from there.A lot of the songs are just Stanley on the bass. I do not find theses type of songs to be very appealing. He is at his best with a full group in jazz fusion mode.

On his new label - the Cleveland, OH-based Heads Up International - Stanley Clarke in The Toys of Men provides the listener with a cornucopia of musical styles that has defined the bassist's outstanding career of more than 30 years.

But it is this vast exploration - Clarke is the writer or co-writer of 12 of the 13 compositions - that can be as frustrating as breathtaking. Take his opus - the anti-war title track, in six parts, which kicks off the CD - with violinist Mads Tolling's energy reminiscent of Jean-Luc Ponty in Cosmic Messenger, the power from drummer Ronald Bruner, Jr. and Clarke's electric & acoustic bass; the powerful theme is dropped after the 11-minute, 13-second clocking.

The same can be said with the enchanting combination of La Cancion De Sofia - the acoustic piano of Ruslan Sirota compliments Clarke's acoustic bass - and the 7-minute, 42-second Prepared Tuned Acoustic Bass solo by Clarke on El Bajo Negro; the Latin rhythms deserve an entire CD.

Clarke plays as funky a groove as he has put down in the studio on Come On and lets the blues and funk take center stage in a trio of cuts - the acoustic bass solo, Hmm Hmm, Bad Asses and Game. The second work could have been plucked from his 1976 release, School Days, with the keyboards of Phil Davis on Game neatly reprising George Duke in The Clarke/Duke Project.

A wicked blues acoustic bass solo - Back In The Woods - segues into what would have been an excellent FM crossover tune back in the day, All Over Again, highlighted by the heartfelt vocals of Esperanza Spalding.

Another short acoustic bass solo - Broski - introduces the expressive drumming by Bruner, Jr. in Chateauvallon 1972 (Dedicated to Tony Williams). Clarke fills in the canvas with artful playing on a Piccolo Bass and Victor Bailey Model Acoustic Bass Guitar. Clarke wraps up the CD with Bass Folk Song No. 6, which clocks in a few ticks under three minutes.

Clarke has remained busy with a variety of concert projects. Now, with The Toys of Men, it is hoped that Clarke will now take the energy from those gigs and apply it to studio releases with his touring band.