Jazz is back in the Play Circle!
"Clayton doesn’t play too long or too loud, except by precise strategy. He uses swing rhythm as a foursquare entity, rather than warping it or battling against it; he’s averse to dissonance except as tiny, unobtrusive details in a powerful euphony. He’s unusually presentable.” – The New York Times
It’s been a while since we’ve had jazz in the Fredric March Play Circle, but excitingly the time has come for its return. On February 25th at 8PM we welcome back a musician who ushers a new generation of jazz into our space, and who had a well-received solo concert at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery when we were closed for renovations. Say hello and welcome back to Gerald Clayton.
I’m not a huge jazz expert, but there is something about Clayton that draws me in. Beginning at the age of 7 music was a central part of his life. He later studied classical piano with Linda Buck, graduated from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, and won 2nd place at the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz Piano Competition in 2006. Over his young career (he’s 32) he has been the lead or featured on 19 albums, has three solo records and received nominations for four GRAMMY awards.
There’s no wonder he’s so talented...his father John and uncle Jeff are the brainchildren behind The Clayton Brothers. His uncle Jeff plays not only the saxophone, but also the oboe, French horn and flute. He has performed and recorded with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, Queen Latifah, Patti LaBelle, Earth, Wind & Fire, Barry Manilow, Madonna, and Justin Timberlake. He ALSO has worked with B.B. King, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.
Gerald’s father, John, is a bassist as well as a composer/arranger/conductor. He worked for the LA Philharmonic as the Artistic Director of Jazz from 1998-2001 and has received multiple Grammy nominations, winning one for Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist Queen Latifah in “I’m Gonna Live Till I Die” in 2008. He also has written and arranged music for Milt Jackson, Nancy Wilson, Ray Brown, Quincy Jones, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston.
Although he is young Gerald Clayton has already performed and record with such distinctive artists as as Diana Krall, Roy Hargrove, Dianne Reeves, John Scofield, and Terri Lyne Carrington, among others. He serves as Musical Director for the Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour ensemble, and since 2013 he has been touring and recording with saxophone legend Charles Lloyd. This year, he is working on a Duke University commission to compose a work that uncovers the essence of the Piedmont Blues experience and expression in early 20th century Durham NC.
Don’t miss this young talent February 25 at 8PM in the Play Circle. Tickets are available here.
