Joining famed jazz pianist and LACHSA alumni Gerald Clayton are a formidable front line of altoist Logan Richardson and tenorist Walter Smith III and the rhythm tandem of bassist Joe Sanders and drummer Marcus Gilmore, both fellow LACHSA alumni, that perform on five of the seven tunes – four Clayton originals and the finale, Billy Strayhorn’s “Take the Coltrane.” Bud Powell’s “Celia” and the standard “Body and Soul” are rendered in trio format. Standards are an essential part of the Village Vanguard’s lore as the late venue matriarch, Lorraine Gordon, would insist upon at least one in the artist’s set.
These lengthy tracks give plenty of room for the soloists to stretch out and the band is at its most fiery peak with the opening “Patience Patients” which features burning solos form Richardson and Smith III before Clayton holds sway with his own inventive passages which take the piece into calmer waters before exiting quietly. “A Light” begins with Clayton noodling alone at the piano before Gilmore sets a churning rhythm that invites the horns for the theme. From there the tune proceeds in complex patterns with Smith III soloing first and then joined in dialogue by Clayton who plays in a Monk-like percussive style. Richardson takes his exuberant turn, flanked by furious Clayton runs and more urgings from Gilmore. The piece eventually reaches explosive levels before ending more structurally, and again quietly.
Clayton grew up under the tutelage of his dad, the legendary bassist, John Clayton in Los Angeles and is also the nephew of saxophonist Jeff Clayton – musical partners in The Clayton Brothers. With access to his dad’s bandmates and his record collection, as well as opportunities to travel and perform, he took to the music at an early age. He met Sanders and Gilmore in high school, at the famous Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. He studied at USC with pianist Billy Childs before moving to Harlem and studying under Kenny Barron. During his ten years in New York he performed with Kendrick Scott, Terri Lyne Carrington. Gretchen Parlato and Ambrose Akinmusire before moving back to L.A. Notably, he’s held the piano chair in Charles Lloyd’s band for seven years now, and has performed with the late Roy Hargrove, Dianne Reeves, Ravi Coltrane, and Dayna Stephens, among many others.
In 2012 and 2013 Clayton received Grammy nominations for The Paris Sessions (Concord) and Life Forum (Concord), the former a trio album with Sanders on bass. In 2010, he was nominated for Best Instrumental Composition for “Battle Circle”, which is featured on the Clayton Brothers album, New Song and Dance. In 2009, he was nominated for Best Improvised Jazz Solo for his solo on Cole Porter‘s “All of You” from his debut album, Two-Shade. His nomination competed with established jazz musicians Terence Blanchard and Roy Hargrove, with whom Clayton toured for several years.
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