WBGO Spotlights Oakland-Born Headhunters' Drummer Mike Clark's New Album

WBGO ran a feature item on Gary Walker's New Day New Play on February 22, 2026, spotlighting Oakland-born drummer Mike Clark and his latest album. The segment put Clark front and center on a program that reaches jazz listeners who follow WBGO and Gary Walker's weekday show.

Mike Clark's pedigree is exact: he is an Oakland-born drummer who rose to wide respect through decades of work, including membership in Herbie Hancock's Headhunters and numerous leader dates under his own name. That history was the central thread of the February 22 feature, which traced Clark's career arc from his Bay Area roots to the rhythms that made him a sought-after player in modern jazz and funk settings.

The WBGO spotlight focused specifically on Clark's newest recording rather than a retrospective-only package, framing the album as an active entry in his discography. Gary Walker's New Day New Play devoted air time to the release, giving listeners a guided listening context for the tracks and placing Clark's current work alongside the long list of leader dates referenced during the broadcast on February 22.

For a working veteran like Clark, national public-radio exposure matters. The February 22 segment on WBGO is the kind of media moment that often translates into expanded streaming attention and increased calls for dates; with his established association with Herbie Hancock's Headhunters and the decades-long timeline of his career, the feature ties the new album to a recognizable legacy that programmers and presenters use when booking sets or compiling playlists.

Listeners and presenters who heard the New Day New Play feature on February 22, 2026 will now have a fresh reference point when discussing Mike Clark's output. The WBGO spotlight positions Clark's latest album to reach the same audiences that have followed his leader dates over the years, and it signals ongoing relevance for a drummer whose work began in Oakland and has continued through high-profile ensembles and solo projects.