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Gerald Clayton Album Release and Tour Plans

02/09/2010
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The New York Times predicted that we would "be hearing more about (Gerald Clayton)" in the near future elaborating "there just aren't a lot of pianists who have so much organized at such a young age." Jazz.com noted "Clayton's apparent skills as a composer foreshadow the impact that he will have on jazz in the years to come." Well the time has come�it is now! His solo debut Two-Shade was released in 2009 through AristShare and was nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Improvised Jazz Solo" for his solo on the track "All of You". Two-Shade will see its major label debut February 9th on Emarcy with tour dates in select cities across the U.S. (see dates below)

At just 25, Clayton performs with the ease of a veteran Jazz musician and has worked with some of the top musicians in the field such as Roy Hargrove, Diana Krall, Hank Jones, Kenny Barron, Lewis Nash, Al Foster and The Clayton Brothers (which includes his father the bassist John Clayton and his uncle saxophonist Jeff Clayton). Showing he is one of the leaders of the new generation of young Jazz musicians, Clayton has branched out on his own to form the Gerald Clayton Trio featuring Justin Brown (drums) and Joe Sanders (bass). Proving he is a force to be reckoned with in the Jazz community, Clayton continues to challenge himself. "I have listened to lots of different musical styles as long as I can remember. I continue to absorb all these influences and in doing so create my own voice�by combining their forces into a harmonic whole�I seek to blend the various styles and sounds I love."

Two-Shade showcases 10 of Clayton's original compositions as well as his Grammy-nominated interpretation of Cole Porter's "All Of You" and Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma". Other stand-out tracks include the hip-hop inspired "Two Heads One Pillow", the catchy upbeat "'Scrimmage" and the contemporary sound of "Casiotone Pothole".

Of his live performances, The New York Times stated; "Gerald Clayton�came to destroy: his playing had huge, authoritative presence, an Oscar Peterson-like style, highly controlled touch and dynamics and rhapsodic, episodic soloing. (The audience broke into applause during his solo.") Recently during a 10-night residency at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy, Clayton opened "before a crowd of more than 5,000 and won over that throng" according to Jazz Times. See for yourself what the buzz is about.

U.S. Tour Dates
February 9th-14th New York, NY Village Vanguard (NYC)
Gerald Clayton Trio
February 17th Purchase, NY Purchase College
Gerald Clayton � clinic/residency
February 24th -27th Moscow, ID Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
Gerald Clayton Trio
March 2nd -3rd Seattle, WA Jazz Alley
Gerald Clayton Trio
March 30th Savannah, GA Savannah Jazz Festival
Gerald Clayton solo
March 31st Savannah, GA Savannah Jazz Festival
Gerald Clayton Trio
April 1st-April 3rd Savannah, GA Savannah Jazz Festival
Clayton Brothers Quintet
April 5th -10th St. Louis, MO Jazz At the Bistro
Clayton Brothers Quintet
April 16th -17th Kansas City Gem Theater
Clayton Brothers Quintet
April 18th Cleveland, OH Tri C Jazz Festival
Gerald Clayton Trio
May 1st -2nd Paradise Valley
John Clayton/Gerald Clayton duo
May 8th Easton, PA House Concert
Gerald Clayton solo
May 20th -23rd St. Louis, MO Jazz Education Network
Clayton Brothers Quintet
August 7th Litchfield, CT Litchfield Jazz Festival
Gerald Clayton Trio


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