Gerald Clayton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gerald Clayton | |
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 Photo by Megan Tharpe
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| Background information | |
| Born | May 11, 1984 Utrecht, Netherlands |
| Origin | Southern California, United States |
| Genre(s) | Mainstream jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Piano |
| Label(s) | Verve Sin-Drome |
| Associated acts | Gerald Clayton Trio Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra The Clayton Brothers Diana Krall Roberta Gambarini Quartet |
| Website | www.geraldclayton.com |
Gerald William Clayton, is a jazz pianist born in Utrecht, Netherlands and raised in Southern California. He is the son of bassist/bandleader John Clayton and the nephew of multi-instrumentalist wind player Jeff Clayton.
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[edit] Biography
Gerald Clayton studied classical piano with Linda Buck for eleven years starting at the age of six[1] or seven[2], and jazz piano and composition with Donald Vega, Shelly Berg, Kenny Barron and Billy Childs. He graduated from Los Angeles County High School for the Arts in 2002. At graduation, he was selected by the Music for Youth Foundation as one of four young musicians to receive a scholarship and perform at Steinway Hall.[3] In September, 2002, he received the Shelly Manne Award for emerging young artists from the Los Angeles Jazz Society.[4] In 2006, he received the Bachelor of Arts degree through the Jazz Studies program at USC Thornton School of Music; a program that included his father as senior lecturer. He took second place in the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz Piano Competition.[5] In the winter of 2006/2007, Gerald Clayton moved to New York City where he currently resides.
[edit] Influences
Gerald Clayton reports that his influences include Oscar Peterson, Monty Alexander, Benny Green and Ray Brown. His most important musical influence is his father, John Clayton.
[edit] Major appearances
Gerald Clayton currently tours with The Clayton Brothers and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. He leads the various permutations of the Gerald Clayton Trio, including the addition of extra players and the accompaniment of jazz vocalists. He has performed in a duo with his father, John Clayton. He appears regularly at the Jazz Gallery in New York, where his own compositions are presented. He has taken part in several world tours with the Roy Hargrove Quintet.
- November 14, 2005 Gold Room of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. "Handful of Keys" with Robert Edward Thies[6]
- Summer 2006 world tour with the Roy Hargrove Quintet
- January 13, 2007 Jazz Gallery Composers Series. Gerald Clayton Trio with David Wong on bass, Pete Van Ostrand on drums and Roy Hargrove joining on trumpet[7]
- January 12, 2007 IAJE 2007 NEA Jazz Masters Awards Concert, The Clayton Brothers Quintet.
- April 11, 2007 Gerald Clayton Trio with Melissa Morgan at Steamers[8]
- July 27, 2007 Roy Hargrove Quintet at Centrum
- Summer/Fall 2007 world tour with Roy Hargrove Quintet
- September 28, 2007 Gerald Clayton Composers Series at The Jazz Gallery
- November 9, 2007 Gerald Clayton Trio at Kennedy Center
- February 1, 2008 Gerald Clayton & Yosvany Terry. Composers Series Part II at The Jazz Gallery
- February 14, 2008 through February 17 Newport Beach Jazz Festival
- February 21 and February 22, 2008 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at University of Idaho
[edit] Gallery
 John and Gerald Clayton performing as part of the Clayton Brothers Quintet at IAJE in 2007. Photo by Ed Berger of Institute of Jazz Studies |
[edit] Discography
- From This Moment On, Diana Krall (Grammy nominee 2006). Clayton played piano on tracks 1, 5, 8, and 10
- Easy To Love, Roberta Gambarini (Grammy nominee 2006). Clayton played piano on track 2
- Christmas Songs, Diana Krall (2005). Clayton played piano on track 7
- Back In The Swing Of Things, The Clayton Brothers (2005). Clayton shared piano duties with Bill Cunliffe
[edit] Personal life
Clayton played competition soccer in school for eight years and enjoys dancing.
[edit] References
- ^ Pasadena Symphony. Gerald Clayon bio
- ^ All About Jazz. Listen Up!: Gerald Clayton interview, p. 12, March 2006
- ^ Music for Youth Foundation Chooses 4 Most Outstanding High School Musicians and Awards $90,000 in Special Concert at Steinway Hall
- ^ Vail Jazz. Gerald Clayton bio
- ^ Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz. Competition - past winners and judges
- ^ Pasadena Symphony. Clazzical Notes: Handful of Keys
- ^ New York Times Music Review by Ben Ratliff: Gerald Clayton Trio. A Pianist With a Soft Touch, Except When It Becomes Grand January 15, 2007
- ^ LA Beat: Melissa Morgan With the Gerald Clayton Trio at Steamers May 13, 2007
