Clare Fischer - Salsa Picante Years

Salsa Picante Years

In 1975, after ten years of studiowork and artistically successful yet obscure solo records, Fischer found a new direction. Just like Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea he was a pioneer on the electric keyboard, and in that capacity he joined vibraphonist Cal Tjader's group. The reunion with Tjader gave a new impulse to Fischer's love of Latin-American music. He started his own group with Latino musicians, "Salsa Picante," which showed great eclecticism in musical styles. Later he added a vocal group, 2+2. Stravinsky mixed with boogie woogie, country with renaissance music.

The record 2+2 won a Grammy in 1981. After that he recorded "And Sometimes Voices" and "Free Fall" with the vocal group. "Free Fall" was nominated in three categories for the Grammy Awards and won under the category of "Best Jazz Album By A Vocal Duo Or Group". "Crazy Bird" was with the instrumental group and "Alone Together", a solo piano album recorded on a magnificent Hamburg Steinway. It was recorded for Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer and the German company MPS Records. Fischer's MPS records were re-released by Discovery Records. In 1999 Motor Music in Hamburg issued a CD with 24 bits re-mastered highpoints of four of his Latin-flavoured MPS records, called Latin Patterns.

In the seventies, Fischer began doing orchestral sweeteners for R&B groups. Fischer's brother's son, André Fischer, was the drummer of the band Rufus with Chaka Khan. "Apparently the arrangements I made for their early records were appreciated, for in the following years I was hired almost exclusively by black artists." Among the artists Fischer worked for are The Jacksons, Earl Klugh, The Debarges, Shot-gun and Atlantic Star. His walls are now covered with gold and platinum records from these recordings and Grammy Award Nominations, N.A.R.A.S. MVP Awards culminating in an MVP-emeritus in 1985.

Once his fame as an arranger was established, Fischer also worked with pop musicians like Paul McCartney, Prince, Celine Dion and Robert Palmer. "I am surprised that my arrangements are now considered one of the prerequisites for a hit album. People feel that they make a song sound almost classical."

Classical concert artist Richard Stoltzman commissioned him in 1983 to write a symphonic work using Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn themes. The result, "The Duke, Swee'pea and Me", an eleven and a half minute orchestral work, was performed with a symphony orchestra and Stoltzman on clarinet all around the world.