“One morning a few years ago, while I was lying in bed with my wife. I realized that not all the music in my head was someone else’s. I realized that I never summoned forth these ‘ditties’ of music that buzzed in my brain. All my life, I assumed the music wasn’t ‘mine.’ ”
— Jerry Clarke on the Creation of Funcadelical Times
By: John Lavitt
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 4/30/24 – On a Saturday night at the Write-Off Room in Studio City, Jerry Clarke helped his audience transcend our troubling times by combining the coolness of a lounge singer with the idealistic messaging of a folk troubadour.
With award-winning guitarist and composer John Ballinger leading the talented band as musical director, Clarke came across as a dynamic cross between an enlightened Dean Martin and a happy version of Bob Dylan with a smile. From the beginning of the opening set to the show’s closing, the audience rocked and rolled with Clarke’s tenor vocals and the band, feeling a sweet and redemptive escape, which is true creativity.
The inspiring show not only celebrated the music of a Renaissance dude but also was a celebration of Clarke’s new album, Funcadelical Times, which is available on Apple Music. The songs also can be previewed on YouTube.
This new album, a true reflection of Clarke’s diverse passions and musical loves, takes listeners on a journey from idealistic anthems that address the craziness of the modern world to funky jaunts into soulful compositions. It’s a musical mirror that offers a deep look into Clarke’s soul, inviting the audience to explore the various facets of his artistry.
As a modern “Renaissance dude,” Clarke’s magnetism is palpable, drawing in other creative souls. His band, led by impassioned collaborator John Ballinger and featuring fiery backup singers Laura Martin and Katharine Eames, reflects this magnetic energy. The rhythm section, balanced by Latin Grammy-winning drummer Emiliano Almeida (aka Mr. E), keyboardist Ryan Whyman, and bass player Greg McFall, adds depth and richness to the performance.
In Clarke’s funkadelic world, McFall’s bass serves as the guiding force, a rhythmic maestro laying down a landscape for the rest of the musical instruments to explore.
Given the feeling that the show was a transcendent lounge act in the Halls of a Mythical Heaven, the horn section proved instrumental. Talented composer and tenor saxophonist Tim McKay led the horn section, which also included Pacific Jazz Orchestra member Michael Stever on trumpet and versatile trombone player Tina Wilcox. Overall, the horns elevated the show by championing the richness of the music and a vibrant tonality lurking within the songs.
The Write-Off Room was a perfect location for the release performance and celebration of Funcadelical Times. In Studio City, the venue radiates a sense of being taken back to the glory days of musical expression on the West Coast.
Located on the site of Oil Can Harry’s – the first nightclub in the San Fernando Valley – the location is friendly and welcoming. It was the one-year anniversary of the club’s debut in Studio City. Offering a wide range of musical genres brought out the best in Clarke and his band.
As a closing message, live music is more important today than it has ever been. We transcend alienation and celebrate connection by coming together to listen to live music. On Sunday night, a show was scheduled for UCLA’s Royce Hall by the renowned Kronos Quarter. Due to a fear for audience safety amid the storm of student protests, the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA canceled the show. When cultural events become victims of such flag-waving, whether the flag of one side or the other, it is a shame.
This closing message connects to Clarke because he is one of the city’s most ardent and idealistic political voices. Indeed, he wants nothing more than to prevent what he views as the dismantling of the American democratic process.
However, when it came to his show on this particular Saturday night, Clarke was focused on the music, the musicians, and the crowd. Although a touch of politics entered the fray now and then, the focus was 100 percent on the joy and connection of coming together to celebrate expression.
Such a focus is more than just a successful night of music; it is an object lesson for the young people in this country.
