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Clark Sommers

Clark Sommers is a Chicago bassist, composer, bandleader, and educator whose projects include WaBaSH, The Lens, and work with Kurt Elling.

Double bassComposerBandleaderEducator6 current shows

Photo source · Official artist media

Career Overview

About Clark Sommers

Sommers's official biography traces his bass study with Charlie Haden and Darek Oles at CalArts and a master's degree in jazz composition from DePaul. It places his touring and recording work with vocalist Kurt Elling alongside a broad Chicago ensemble practice.[1]

His leader work is organized around two durable project lines. BaSH and its expanded WaBaSH quartet grow from long collaborations with Geof Bradfield and Dana Hall, while The Lens uses a wider compositional palette. The 2026 WaBaSH album documents the quartet after years of shared Chicago performances.[1][2][3]

Ensembles and Career Threads

Bands & Projects

Leader, bassist, and composer

WaBaSH / BaSH

The project links Sommers with Geof Bradfield, Dana Hall, and John Wojciechowski, extending a trio first recorded as BaSH into a quartet.[1][2][3]

Leader, bassist, and composer

The Lens

The Lens recordings bring Sommers's writing to ensembles featuring musicians including Jeff Parker, Kendrick Scott, Gary Versace, and Geof Bradfield.[1]

Bassist and touring member

Kurt Elling ensembles

Sommers's artist and label biographies document his long-running work in Elling's touring and recording groups.[1][3]

Selected, Not Exhaustive

Recordings to Know

2013 · Origin Records

Ba(SH)

Leader, bassist, and composer

The first BaSH recording documents Sommers's trio with reed player Geof Bradfield and drummer Dana Hall.[1][3]

Release details

2017 · Independent

By A Thread

The Lens leader, bassist, and composer

The Lens recording features Jeff Parker, Kendrick Scott, Gary Versace, Geof Bradfield, and Joel Adams around Sommers's project concept.[1][2]

Release details

2026 · Calligram Records

WaBaSH

Leader, bassist, composer, and producer

The quartet recording features Bradfield, Wojciechowski, and Hall and includes Sommers compositions and improvised solo-bass interludes.[2]

Release details

Artist-Authorized Destinations

Start Listening

Clark Sommers catalog

Stream WaBaSH, BaSH, The Lens, and other leader releases through Sommers's authorized Bandcamp catalog.

Official music guide

Browse Sommers's leader and sideman projects through the music section of his artist site.

Live Calendar

Upcoming Jazz DateBook Shows

Thu, Aug 27, 6:30 PM

Chris White Quartet - Presents Dave Brubeck’s "Time Out"

Winter's Jazz Club · Chicago

Thu, Aug 27, 8:30 PM

Chris White Quartet - Presents Dave Brubeck’s "Time Out"

Winter's Jazz Club · Chicago

Thu, Sep 10, 8:00 PM

Clark Sommers W'Ba(SH)

Jazz Showcase · Chicago

Fri, Sep 11, 8:00 PM

Clark Sommers W'Ba(SH)

Jazz Showcase · Chicago

Sat, Sep 12, 8:00 PM

Clark Sommers W'Ba(SH)

Jazz Showcase · Chicago

Sun, Sep 13, 8:00 PM

Clark Sommers W'Ba(SH)

Jazz Showcase · Chicago

Sources

Career copy is original synthesis from the artist, label, and project sources below. Current dates come from Jazz DateBook event inventory.

[1] Official biography and project history
Clark Sommers
[2] WaBaSH release and ensemble history
Clark Sommers / Calligram Records
[3] Label biography and recording catalog
Origin Records
[4] Official portrait gallery
Clark Sommers