WILLIAMSBURG — Emilio Modeste, a former Williamsburg resident, has been making a name for himself in the music industry and was recently featured in a new documentary on legendary bassist and composer Stanley Clarke.
In “Stanley Clarke: Forever,” viewers gain a glimpse into the musical life of four-time Grammy Award-winning bassist, producer and film composer Stanley Clarke. Celebrating his legacy and unveiling the making of his new album “Last Train to Sanity,” the documentary showcases Clarke’s impact on the music world. He is joined by 4EVER, his new band of young musicians.
Modeste is featured on tenor sax and clarinet as a member 4EVER.
“Being around Stanley has been a really — a beautiful gift, truly. To be able to be around someone, a human being who creates everything on such a high level,” Modeste says.
Over five decades, Clarke’s influence continues to influence today’s music — from jazz, R&B and funk to pop, hip-hop and rock. Clarke has worked alongside artists including Chick Corea, Paul McCartney, Aretha Franklin, Jeff Beck and George Duke.
Clarke was also named Rolling Stone magazine’s first Jazzman of the Year and was a 2022 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship.
Modeste, who began playing saxophone at the age of eight, knew that when the opportunity came to play alongside Clarke, he couldn’t say no.
“The way that somebody like Stanley thinks about music, all the different genres are invited to play with each other. It’s such a special thing when you are looking at planning music and you have all these influences. I learned so much from playing with an artist that is not afraid to bring different sounds together,” Modeste said.
The full documentary can be viewed on the Scientology Network website or app.