Daggerboard The Skipper And Mike Clark
Longtime Throttle Elevator Music and Daggerboard collaborators Erik Jekabson and Gregory Howe return with ten new songs that feature one of the greatest rhythm sections ever assembled. Joining the group for a third release is Henry ‘The Skipper’ Franklin (Hugh Masekela, Stevie Wonder) on Stand-up Bass.
For a second album, legendary drummer Mike Clark (Herbie Hancock, The Headhunters) holds down the trap set with outstanding skill. New to the group is conga player Babatunde Lea (Oneness of Space Juju). Lea is featured on the first piece Desierto do Tabernas which draws its name from the cinematic dessert landscape of Spain. Rounding out the group are Dave Ellis (Charlie Hunter) on Saxophone, Piano virtuoso Matt Clark and Dave Macnab on guitar.
Track Listing:
- DESIERTO DE TABERNAS 6:48
- CHANGING EMPHASIS 4:56
- TANZANIAN SKIES 6:54
- RUNNIN INTO ONE 4:48
- STREET SHEIK 7:48
- BROTHER RANELIN 5:45
- TRANQUIL BLUE 7:28
- A PRIDE IN THE PRAIRIE 5:26
- FREE LANCER 3:08
- RUAHA DAYBREAK 7:26
Babatunde Lea
Babatunde Lea, "Tunde," as he is known to intimates, has drawn immeasurable experience working with such singular stylists as Leon Thomas, Pharoah Sanders, Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, and a host of others.
Erik Jekabson
Erik Jekabson is a freelance trumpet player, composer, arranger and educator living in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has toured with Illinois Jacquet, John Mayer, Galactic, and has performed on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with David Letterman.
Gregory Howe
Gregory Howe founded Wide Hive Records in 1996. While primarily active as producer, mixer, and composer, Howe also performs guitar, synthesizer, turntable, voice and percussion on many recordings. From 1996 to 2024 Howe recorded and released albums for Throttle Elevator Music with Kamasi Washington, Roscoe Mitchell, Mike Clark, Dissent, Erik Jekabson, Calvin Keys, Phil Ranelin (Pharoah Sanders, Henry Franklin, Big Black), Wide Hive Players and the incomparable artist and guitarist Larry Coryell.
Henry Franklin, The Skipper
Henry Franklin is a jazz double-bassist who is perhaps best known for his solo albums The Skipper and The Skipper at Home on cult label Blackjazz Records. Henry has also toured and recorded with Hugh Masekela on his 1968 number one single, "Grazing in the Grass," and played with Masekela’s band at the Monterey International Pop Festival in June 1967.
Franklin has played and recorded with Freddie Hubbard, Bobbi Humphrey, Willie Bobo, Archie Shepp, Don Cherry, Count Basie, Stevie Wonder, Roy Ayers, O.C. Smith, and Al Jarreau.
Mike Clark
Mike Clark is an American drummer and recording artist who has recorded and toured with Headhunters (member), Herbie Hancock (Thrust), Tony Bennett, Larry Coryell, Vince Guaraldi, Joe Henderson, Eddie Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Wayne Shorter, and Dr Lonnie Smith. His drum intro on Headhunters “God Made Me Funky’ is one of the most sampled drum breaks in hip-hop.
