What makes Red Star by Kenny Clarke notable?

This album is notable for its ambitious structure, particularly the title track, which spans twenty minutes and highlights Clarke's innovative drumming style. 'Red Star' received positive critical reception, reinforcing Clarke’s status in the jazz community and influencing younger generations of jazz musicians who sought to explore extended forms and improvisation. In 1977, Kenny Clarke was at a pivotal moment in his career, having already established himself as a key figure in the bebop movement. 'Red Star' marked his return to recording after a period of relative quiet, serving as a significant follow-up to his earlier work that had influenced countless musicians. This album showcases Clarke's evolution as an artist, blending traditional jazz elements with contemporary influences.

How many songs are on Red Star?

Red Star has 3 tracks, running approximately 36 minutes.

Red Star

Kenny Clarke · 1977

36 min · 3 tracks · jazz

A vibrant fusion of bebop rhythms and complex harmonies, evoking the spirit of jazz's golden era with a modern twist.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Creole Girl — This track exemplifies Clarke's ability to blend intricate rhythms with melodic lines, creating an inviting atmosphere that draws listeners into the album's world.
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Lovers — With its smooth interplay between instruments, this track captures the essence of romantic themes often explored in jazz while showcasing emotive solos.
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Red Star — The centerpiece of the album, this lengthy composition allows for extensive improvisation and serves as a testament to Clarke's technical prowess and creative vision.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

58 /100

Treeline

Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album blends structured pieces with an ambitious long-form track, highlighting Clarke's drumming in a modern bebop context.

What we noticed

The first two tracks are shorter, with 'Creole Girl' and 'Lovers' both under five minutes, presenting more structured melodies before the expansive finale.
The album employs complex harmonies typical of bebop, with frequent tempo changes and syncopated rhythms that challenge the listener.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Creole Girl 8:00
2 Lovers 8:00
3 Red Star 20:00

What to play next

Listen next

Klook's Time

2002

Go back to

Jazz a confronto 20

1975

Full Kenny Clarke discography Artists like Kenny Clarke

bebop

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata