DESCRIPTION:
First Set: 4:28
Second Set: 55:35

Sarah Marie Young, vocals
Clark Sommers, bass
Stu Mindeman, keyboards
Greg Artry, drums

Bassist Clark Sommers is active throughout the Chicago jazz scene (and beyond) in a delightfully diverse collection of ensembles, including his position as Kurt Elling’s regular bassist. The Tribune’s Howard Reich wrote a lovely review of Clark’s recent appearance at the Green Mill saying his music “pulsed with rhythmic intensity but remained translucent in its textures and essentially lyrical at its core.”

In my own orbit, he has appeared as a sideman several times at both the Whiskey Lounge and Studio5, and I’ve always loved his playing. I have been aware that Clark also fronts his own groups, so recently he and I have been talking about him bringing one of them in to Studio5. We agreed on a date, and boy, has he delivered on the personnel. Sarah Marie Young is a vocalist I have known about for several years. A soulful singer with a cool, unusual repertoire, she has performed around the world, including the Montreaux Jazz Festival, and I’ve been hoping to get her to our stage for some time. Pianist Stu Mindeman works alongside Clark in Kurt Elling’s band and is, like Sarah, someone who’s been on my radar screen for a couple of years. I’m thrilled he will also be making his Studio5 debut. Greg Artry is a fine drummer I first met when he played at the Whiskey Lounge in 2015, and I look forward to hearing him again. This is an ensemble Clark has created just for this event, and I am eager to see what they bring. –SR