John Clayton
John Clayton is a natural born multitasker. The multiple roles in which he excels — composer, arranger, conductor, producer, educator, and yes, extraordinary bassist — garner him a number of challenging assignments and commissions. With a Grammy on his shelf and eight additional nominations, artists such as Diana Krall, Paul McCartney, McCoy Tyner, Milt Jackson, Regina Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gladys Knight, Dr. John, Queen Latifah, and Charles Aznevour vie for a spot on his crowded calendar.
He began his bass career in elementary school playing in strings class, junior orchestra, high school jazz band, orchestra, and soul/R&B groups. In 1969, at the age of 16, he enrolled in bassist Ray Brown's jazz class at UCLA, beginning a close relationship that lasted more than three decades. After graduating from Indiana University's School of Music with a degree in bass performance in 1975, he toured with the Monty Alexander Trio (1975-77), the Count Basie Orchestra (1977-79), and settled in as principal bassist with the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in Amsterdam, Netherlands (1980-85). He was also a bass instructor at The Royal Conservatory, The Hague, Holland from 1980-83.
In 1985 he returned to California, co-founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, rekindled the The Clayton Brothers quintet, and taught part-time bass at Cal State Long Beach, UCLA and USC. In 1988 he joined he faculty of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where he taught until 2009. Now, in addition to individual clinics, workshops, and private students as schedule permits, John also directs the educational components associated with the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Centrum Festival, and Vail Jazz Party.
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Album Review
- The L.A. Treasures Project:Live at Alvas Showroom by Jack Bowers
- Parlor Series, Vol. 1 by Dan Bilawsky
Live Review
Album Review
- The New Song And Dance by Dan Bilawsky
Megaphone
Read more articlesAugust 14, 2020
Christian McBride, John Clayton Highlight Virtual Tri-C JazzFest
January 30, 2019
Jazz at sea with healthy doses of Latin flavor
August 23, 2013
John Clayton Launches Fan-funded Parlor Series On Artistshare
March 14, 2013
Jazz This Week: Dan Hicks, John Clayton and Gerald Clayton, Lotte Anker...
December 19, 2012
Columbus Jazz Orchestra Pays Tribute To Rosa Parks In Suite Rosa - Jan....
December 17, 2012
Singer Jackie Ryan Returns; "Listen Here" Also Features John Clayton &...
March 24, 2010
A Free Bass Lesson from John Clayton
October 23, 2009
John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton - Rhythm is Their Business
January 24, 2008
2008 University of Michigan Jazz Festival Featuring the John Clayton...
June 25, 2007
KJO Featuring: Donald Brown, John Clayton, Stefon Harris and Gregory...
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