Stanley Clarke

On June 5, 2026, at the Théâtre Casino Barrière d'Enghien in Enghien‑les‑Bains, Stanley Clarke takes the stage with his electric bass and double bass, two voices he has set in dialogue since his beginnings. Born in Philadelphia and originally trained on the cello, he steered these instruments toward acoustic jazz, fusion, funk and soul. Settling in New York in the early 1970s, he played with Horace Silver, Joe Henderson and Pharoah Sanders before asserting himself at the heart of Return to Forever, led by Chick Corea, where his fast, melodic and highly articulated playing redefined the role of the bass. As a solo artist, from Stanley Clarke (1974) to Journey to Love (1975) and School Days (1976), he established a signature built on improvisation, taut grooves and singable themes. Since then he has alternated electric and acoustic projects, intuitive duos, bands and music for film and visual media. On stage he unfolds a clear pulse, singing lines and a precise structure, with the bass in the foreground but always in service of the ensemble.