”Clark Sommers rings true and honest in tone. The golden color pours a solid foundation to the timber of the group.” – All About Jazz.

Bassist, Composer and Educator, Clark has toured and performed extensively throughout the world. He has had the privilege of performing with Cedar Walton, Darrell Grant, Brian Blade, Ernie Watts, Bennie Maupin, Von Freeman, Ira Sullivan, Frank Wess, Charles McPherson, Peter Bernstein, Lin Haliday, Dana Hall, Jodie Christian, Bobby Broom, Jeff Parker, Ron Perrillo, Geof Bradfield, Michael Weiss, George Fludas, Kevin Mahogany, Eden Atwood, Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls, The Chicago Jazz Orchestra among others.

Clark completed his undergraduate degree in Jazz Studies and World Music at California Institute of the Arts in 2002, where he studied with bass masters Charlie Haden and Darek Oles. While living in Los Angeles, Clark performed with Leo Smith, Vinny Golia, The Charlie Haden Liberation Orchestra, Joe La Barbara and Larry Koonse. Additionally, Clark completed a masters degree in Jazz Composition in 2021 from DePaul University.

Clark is proud to be at home in the bass chair with vocalist Kurt Elling, with whom he tours the globe, bringing jazz to everyone from Istanbul to the Canary Islands. Thus far, he has been privileged to play on multiple recordings with the Elling. One of which won the GRAMMY for best jazz vocal album in 2009 “Dedicated to You” Kurt Elling sings the music of Coltrane and Hartman and the second in 2020 for “Secrets Are The Best Stories” featuring Danilo Perez

When not on the road with Kurt Elling, Clark enjoys leading two of his own groups in and outside of Chicago. Ba(SH) which includes long-time collaborators Dana Hall on drums and Geof Bradfield on reeds released their debut album in 2013 which was acknowledged on the “notable and not to be missed” list by All About Jazz in 2013. The groups’ subsequent album “Peninsula” was released in 2020. The Lens Project “By A Thread” was released in 2014 and includes Jeff Parker, Kendrick Scott, Gary Versace, Geof Bradfield and Joel Adams. The latest Lens album was released in the Fall of 2022 and features Dana Hall, Chris Madsen, Matt Gold and Geof Bradfield.

Clark can also be heard performing with Portland’s Darrell Grant in his “Territory” and “Step By Step” ensembles which include Brian Blade, Joe Locke and Steve Wilson. Other groups that Clark performs regularly with include Dana Hall’s “Spring” and “Black Fire,” Geof Bradfield’s “African Flowers Ensemble” and “Melba, Our Roots”, The Chicago Yestet and many other musicians.