Clark Sommers Bass

01.31.10 | Kurt Elling-"Dedicated To You" WINS GRAMMY AWARD!!!!!!
It's official...I am very excited about Kurt Elling's album "Dedicated To You" receiving the Grammy for best vocal jazz album 2010. It was recorded last January at Lincoln Center in New York and features Laurence Hobgood on piano and string arrangements, Ernie Watts on sax, Ulysses Owens Jr. on drums, Ethel string quartet and myself on bass. The music on the record was inspired by the collaboration between John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman.

12.24.09 | Kurt Elling-"Dedicated To You" Nominated for a GRAMMY AWARD
Kurt Elling's most recent recording has been nominated for a Grammy Award. It is a live record that features the Ethel string Quartet with beautiful arrangements by Laurence Hobgood, the great saxophonist Ernie Watts, one of my favorite drummers Ulysses Owens and myself. Look out for the results at this years awards on January 31st, 2010.

12.22.09 | "SPRING" Dana Hall Quartet
'SPRING" A quartet led by drummer Dana Hall has been performing every Tuesday at Andy's Jazz club in Chicago. The group is getting ready to make a record at the end of January. This band features Geof Bradfield and John Wojciechowski on saxes and woodwinds and myself on bass. We perform original compositions from everyone in the group. Look for upcoming performances...

12.14.09 | Eric Alexander
I just finished playing an extended engagement at the Chicago Jazz Showcase with saxophonist Eric Alexander. The group also featured George Fludas on drums and Dan Trudell on piano. Those guys really swing. I'll try and post some live clips from those gigs.

11.24.09 | South Korea Tour
I was just in Seoul, Korea playing with my good friend, vibraphonist Chris Varga. We did a recording with a great drummer, Mark Ferber...that should be out in the Spring of 2010. I'll post some clips when I get them.

10.12.09 | Geof Bradfield...CMA "African Flowers"
This past October a good friend of mine, Geof Bradfield received a CMA grant to write music inspired by his extensive travels throughout Africa. The fruit of his labor produced a beautiful suite that features Jeff Parker on guitar, George Fludas on drums, Victor Garcia on trumpet and congas, Ryan Cohen on piano, Geof Bradfield on saxes and myself on bass. We were fortunate to do several performances before recording this material for a cd which will come out some time in the spring of 2010.