Gerald Clayton

Infobox musical artist

---

Name = Gerald Clayton
Img_size =
Img_capt = Photo by Megan Tharpe
Landscape = yes
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1984|5|11
Utrecht, Netherlands
Died =
Origin = Southern California, United States
Instrument = Piano
Genre = Mainstream jazz
Occupation = Musician
Years_active =
Label = Verve
Sin-Drome
Associated_acts = Gerald Clayton Trio
Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
The Clayton Brothers
Diana Krall
Roberta Gambarini Quartet

URL = [http://www.geraldclayton.com/ www.geraldclayton.com]
Notable_instruments =

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.

Biography

Gerald Clayton studied classical piano with Linda Buck for eleven years starting at the age of six [ [http://www.pasadenasymphony.org/clazzical_bios6.htm Pasadena Symphony. Gerald Clayon bio] ] or seven [ [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/newyork/aaj_ny_200603.pdf All About Jazz. Listen Up!: Gerald Clayton interview, p. 12, March 2006] ] , 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. [ [http://www.musicforyouth.org/downloads/steinwayhall071702.pdf "Music for Youth Foundation Chooses 4 Most Outstanding High School Musicians and Awards $90,000 in Special Concert at Steinway Hall"] ] In September, 2002, he received the Shelly Manne Award for emerging young artists from the [http://www.lajazz.org/ Los Angeles Jazz Society] . [ [http://www.vailjazz.org/jazz/artists/gerald_clayton.htm Vail Jazz. Gerald Clayton bio] ] 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. [ [http://www.monkinstitute.org/competition.php?Page=COMP-PW#2006 Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz. Competition - past winners and judges] ] In the winter of 2006/2007, Gerald Clayton moved to New York City where he currently resides.

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.

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 [ [http://www.pasadenasymphony.org/clazzical_bios6.htm Pasadena Symphony. Clazzical Notes: Handful of Keys] ]
*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 [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/15/arts/music/15clay.html?fta=y 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] ]
*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 [ [http://www.jazzpolice.com/content/view/6981/89/ LA Beat: "Melissa Morgan With the Gerald Clayton Trio at Steamers" May 13, 2007] ]
*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

Gallery

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

Personal life

Clayton played competition soccer in school for eight years and enjoys dancing.

References

External links

* [http://www.geraldclayton.com/ Gerald Clayton official website]
* [http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=Gerald+Clayton&m=text Flickr photos of Gerald Clayton]