John Clayton & Gerald Clayton with Kevin Kanner

John Clayton excels as a composer, arranger, conductor, producer, educator and, yes, extraordinary bassist. With a Grammy on his shelf and eight additional nominations, artists such as Diana Krall, Paul McCartney, Regina Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gladys Knight, Queen Latifah and Charles Aznavour vie for a spot on his crowded calendar. Career highlights include arranging the “Star-Spangled Banner” for Whitney Houston’s performance at Super Bowl 1990 (the recording went platinum), playing bass on Paul McCartney’s CD Kisses on the Bottom, arranging and playing bass with Yo-Yo Ma and friends on Songs of Joy & Peace, and arranging, conducting and playing on the 2009 CD Charles Aznavour & The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. 

Gerald Clayton searches for honest expression in every note he plays. The four-time GRAMMY-nominated pianist/composer formally began his musical journey at the prestigious Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, and continued his scholarly pursuits by earning a B.A. in Piano Performance at USC’s Thornton School of Music under the instruction of piano icon Billy Childs. After a year of intensive study with NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron at The Manhattan School of Music, Clayton won second place in the 2006 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Piano Competition. This past February, Gerald was appointed artistic director and conductor of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra.