By Gregory Burrus | Posted Friday, July 16, 2021
Live Music Tribute, July 17 and 18
This weekend, we pay tribute to a wonderful colleague who was a pillar of the community, Darryl Clark. He played bass, which is how we know him, but he was a family man involved in many other endeavors. Because of the Pandemic many celebrations were delayed, and this weekend we finally get to celebrate the life of our friend who finally succumbed to a 10-year illness,
About Bassman Darryl Clark
Darryl Clark developed his love of music as a youth in East Elmhurst (Queens), NY, where he was classically trained on guitar in elementary school. By high school, he discovered the fusion sounds of Stanley Clarke, falling in love with Stanley's School Days album and was officially bitten by "the bass bug," adopting a deep respect and affection for the styles of Larry Graham, Louis Johnson and Jaco Pastorius, to name a few.
The '70's were a time of neighborhood bands and East Elmhurst had quite a few of them including neighbor and professional bassist Kim Clarke. Kim inspired Darryl to hone his chops by attending Jazzmobile in Harlem. While at Jazzmobile, Darryl studied under the direction of legendary bassist Earl May.
Darryl had spent a musical lifetime living, learning and accomplished in the spectrum of styles; traditional jazz, fusion, funk, gospel, rock and alternative make up an inclusive repertoire playing with jazz artists including Nat Adderley Jr., Tina Fabrique, Peter Lin, Marshall McDonald and Slide Hampton.
Other projects include the Essex County Youth Detention Center Prison Ministry, Lafayette College Jazz Ensemble, St Matthew Ame Gospel Chorus, The Owens Brothers Band and The Perfect Alibi Quartet.
About The Live Music
In addition to some stellar bands, we will have a few Special Guests, one being our host on Sunday, Lynette Sheard of Lynette Sheard Entertainment. We want to give a shout out to a very special college friend of Darryl Clark, Saxophonist Marshall McDonald who is returning to Japan, but we thank him for being with us.
Day 1: 7/17 Schedule
12-2pm MPACK MUSIC and Jam
3-5pm Flip Da Skrip Band
6:30-9:30pm Radam Schwartz Organ Trio
Day 2: 7/18 Schedule
12:30-2:30pm Peter Lin Trio and Jazz Jam
2:30pm Special Guest Host Lynette Sheard will take us through the day
3-5pm Darryl Clark DC Fusion Band
6:30pm - 9:30pm Nat Adderley Jr. Trio w/ Special Guest
Day 1: 7/17 Lineup
MPACK MUSIC LIVE
Spiotta Park - Let’s Dance and Jam - We kick off the day with a truly swinging R&B jam led by MPack Music. Dynamic, versatile, multifaceted, multitalented, cross-genre band whose playlist spans old school Funk, Jazz, R&B, Fusion, Motown, Neo-Soul and more. Yup the music will be hot and the jam will be awesome. Bring your instrument and or your voice at 12 Noon and join in. We are jamming.
Flip Da Skrip Band
Photo Credit Flip Da Skrip Band
Spiotta Park - Calling all Flippers - we are all in for a special treat as one of our favorite funk, pop bands Flip Da Skrip Band returns to the stage and will be the Sounds In Spiotta Park. Head Flipper has been telling the world:
"Certain Places We've Played Just Mean A Lil' Sumthin' Sumthin' More!!! Places Like Cecil's, Gotham Hall, Gaustavinos, Seton Village, & The Spot Come 2 Mind. However Spiotta Park Has Alwayz Been A Great Place 2 Hang Out, Chillax, & Lissen 2 Whatever Sounds Are Going On Out There That Day. Hear Why Each Flippa Xplains Why They Love Performing In This Waaayyy Kewl Space!!!"
Bottomline, come have some fun.
Radam Schwartz Organ Trio
Sloan Street Parking - Are you ready for some serious Organ Music? One of the pacesetters of the jazz organ, Radam Schwartz teams up with drummer David F. Gibson and saxophonist Anthony Ware and they intend to bring the house dam. The jazz will jumping Radam had hosted a Jam Session from 1986 to 20016, beginning at the famous Peppermint Lounge in Orange, New Jersey, and in 1997 when the Mint closed its doors, moving to the Crossroads in Garwood, where he played every Tuesday for 19 years, making this the longest running session in New Jersey history. Radam knows how to jam so bring your instrument and or your voice and sign in to have some big fun on Saturday night.
Day 2: 7/17 Lineup
Peter Lin Trio and Jam
Darryl Clark wirth Peter Lin, Slide Hampton and Mimiko Watanabe
Spiotta Park - Nothing like a really fabulous jazz jam led by the stellar Trombone player Peter Lin. Darryl played with the cats all the time so bring your stuff and join in. Come listen and or Jam with us and the true Jam Master.
DC Fusion Band Rides Again
Special Guest Host Lynette Sheard with Members of DC Fusion Band
Spiotta Park - In honor of Darryl Clark’s band rides again with his original band members and they will be playing the hits and bringing back some of the great times of the DC Fusion Band.
Nat Adderley, Jr. Trio
Spiotta Park - Nat Adderley Jr, long time friend of Darryl Clark will join us. Are you Ready for the smooth Jazz and R&B sounds of Nat Adderley, Jr. trio featuring always in demand bassist Chris Berger and a stellar drummer who loves to groove Jerome Jennings and with Special Guest joining in. Yup, it's a smoking hot Sunday and you can join in if you think you're ready, just let me know. Are you ready?
This tribute is free so please tell your friends and your friends, friends to grab a chair and join us. Just listen to the music in the Summer Air. We hope you can come on Sunday, July 17 and 18, 2021 enjoy some great music and the memory of Darryl Clark. The music will be jumping all day.
Event Production
Summer Saturdays produced/hosted by South Orange Village Center, South Orange Village and Gregory Burrus Productions
Gregory Burrus is a local live music ambassador, event planner, live music ambassador and community partner that curates, manages and promotes live music events in the local SOMA (South Orange, Maplewood) community, Northern NJ and New York Area.