Mike recorded and toured with Herbie Hancock’s legendary Headhunters — an experience that was not just a jazz changer but a life changer for him. He has since recorded with an array of greats, including Christian McBride, Chet Baker, John Scofield, Nicholas Payton, Tony Bennett, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Donald Harrison, Eddie Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Vince Guaraldi, Woody Shaw, Albert King, Larry Coryell, Mike Wolff, Wallace Roney, Billy Childs, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Chris Potter, Bobby McFerrin, Nat Adderley, Oscar Brown Jr., and Gil Evans and his Orchestra.”
Born in Sacramento, CA, Mike traveled around the country with his father, a union man for the railroad, and a former drummer himself. His dad had a great appreciation for jazz and blues music, and Mike credits this exposure as forming the foundation for his ability to synthesize many different regional styles. He absorbed the music of America while riding the rails. From age 4, he was a prodigy, sitting in—and getting “house” —- with bands in Texas and New Orleans. By the time he reached his early twenties, he had become one of the founders of the distinctive East Bay Sound coming out of Oakland, California.
As of 2024, Mike still lives in New York City. His CD, “Mike Drop” with sax great Michael Zilber is in the top ten on Jazz Weekly. Mike is with Leon Lee Dorsey and Manny Valera on Leon’s new record “Freedom Jazz Dance” which debuted on Jazz Weekly at number 16. Mike did a record as a leader “Mike Clark plays Herbie Hancock” It was number five in the Jazz Weekly Charts and one of the top 100 for 2023 His most recent, a modern jazz record for Wide Hive Records entitled Kosen Rufu featuring Eddie Henderson, Skerik, Wayne Horvitz, Bill Summers and Henry Franklin. Wolff, Clark and Dorsey have a new recording out this March called Letter to Bill, a celebration of the great Bill Evans. Mike is still touring as and acoustic jazz artits as wel as co-leading the world famous Headhunters with Bill Summers featuring Donald Harrison. The Headhunters has a new release out The Stunt Man on Rope a Dope records and they are touring the US, Europe and Japan.