Bass players

[bassist]

Hi, my name is Nick Clarke. My father Frank Clarke, played double bass on a number of JT’s records and on Braden’s Week on the Beeb.
I know there were other bassists but have no knowledge of their names.
Any help with this would be appreciated.

[Paul]

Welcome, Nick. Jake’s regular bassist from the mid 70’s onwards was Alan Williams. You can see and hear him on the Jake Thackray and Songs DVD.

[Malcy]

Hi, Nick – welcome aboard !

I’ve long been a fan of your dad’s work with Jake, especially on “Jake’s Progress” – before then, Jake had been placed in a heavily orchestrated setting by musical arrangers, and, in many ways, it was only when he played with Frank Clarke, Frank Horrox and Ike Isaacs that Jake found his feet in a more folk/jazzy, stripped-down environment. It was a style he’d play in for the rest of his career and the one that the majority of fans feel suited him best, so I for one feel we have a lot to thank your dad for.

Cheers –

Malcy

[mark sturdy]

Welcome indeed Nick. As Malcy points out, your dad’s playing on the Jake’s Progress LP is really nice. Presumably that’s him in the band behind Jake on the early Braden’s Week appearances too (see Kirkstall Road Girl on YouTube).

Do you happen to know what other LPs he played on? Jake’s Progress is the only one that has clear credits – is he on Last Will and Bantam Cock too?

[bassist]

Firstly, my apologies for not thanking you all for the info.
Put it down to bad memory, laziness, age, or indeed a combination of all 3.
Thanks Malcy for your kind remarks regarding my father’s abilities. I can’t give you much info in return as he was an extremely busy session musician all my formative years and indeed was still playing occasionally well into his seventies until the dreaded C put an end to it all in 2007 at the age of 82.
Yes Mark, you are correct, that is him on Bradens Week in Kirkstall Road Girl. To my knowledge he only played on Jake’s recordings and odd television appearances.
I strangely know only a small proportion of his musical industry history. Inevitably we wait too long to ask questions and then alas it’s too late.
Again thank you all for your interest.

Nick Clarke

[Hugh Williams]

The expression “Session Musician” has cropped up on radio recently.
“How do you know they’re session musicians ?”
“Because they’re in tune and in time !”
:laugh:

[Malcy]

How can you tell if those musicians in the room are session musicians ?

Because they knew when to come in. 🙂

[Author]

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