| Stanley Clarke was stunning last night at Denton Jazz Fest
I thought that initially I wasn't going to go last night, but things broke right at the last moment (about 30 minutes before showtime) and I was able to go.
I probably should preface this by saying I wasn't that big a fan of Stanley Clarke going in. I'd never seen him before, and I'd mostly heard Return to Forever things, which I'd never really taken to, and the School Days album, which I liked better. All in all, I wasn't really well versed in his music (and I'm still not, of course).
The sound for the main stage was great -- very clear and well defined, and we happened to be sitting near the main board about 80 yards out. Clarke was in great form -- they split the performance into electric and acoustic portions with everybody back onstage for a full-on electric encore of "School Days." The band is razor-sharp, _especially_ the drummer...as you'd expect, perhaps, but really it was thrilling to see. He's really a genial and witty showman, too -- nice rapport with the crowd.
I went back home with my brain buzzing and I was shaking my head at how little I've considered the possibilities of my instrument, even now after all the stuff I've listened to over the years and the time spent playing...amazing monster grooves, amazing sense for rhythm...man...back to the woodshed for me. | 
