About

Corky McClerkin's early career follows in the wake of the infectiously funky, blues-based keyboard music exemplified by hard-bop paragons Horace Silver and Bobby Timmons in the 50s and 60s. Not surprisingly, McClerkin listened to those pianists while growing up on Chicago’s south-side; he also heard plenty of Ahmad Jamal (who then lived and worked in Chicago), and Jamal’s trademark airiness occasionally works its way into the mix as well. Since the 1960's Corky has performed professionally throughout the Chicago area, guided by his mentor, Jazz tenor great Von Freeman, he developed his talents throughout the 1970s while also discovering his passion for writing. As a featured columnist for the Chicago Courier, he was inspired to write Undercurrents (1978), a collection of short stories about the black experience.

In 1981, Corky strengthened his talents by taking on the position of musical director and arranger for the Chicago production of Sasha, Sing Dinah! and wrote “a play, Life Cycles,” performed at the Chicago Cultural Center. In 1983 he built on his experiences by releasing his first album, Searchin' for the Soul (WinCor Records, 1983). In 2001 The American Biographical Institute included Corky in their edition of the International Directory of Distinguished Leaders. He was also a member of the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), the American Federation of Musicians, and the World Future Society. — via Label

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Label: Mad About Records, WinCo
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, 180g
Reissued: 2022 / Original Release: 1983
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul
Style: Soul, Soul-Jazz, Funk

File under: Soul-Jazz / Jazz-Funk
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