Gerald Clayton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gerald Clayton
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| Background information | |
| Born | May 11, 1984 Utrecht, Netherlands |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Labels | Blue Note Concord Verve ArtistShare Motéma |
| Associated acts | The Clayton Brothers Charles Lloyd Roy Hargrove Ambrose Akinmusire Dianne Reeves Peter Bernstein |
Gerald William Clayton (born May 11, 1984) is a talented jazz pianist and composer. He was born in the Netherlands but is also an American citizen. He is known for his amazing piano playing and for creating beautiful music.
Contents
About Gerald Clayton
Early Life and Education
Gerald Clayton went to a special arts high school in Los Angeles. He also studied piano at two famous music schools: USC's Thornton School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music. He learned from great piano teachers like Billy Childs and Kenny Barron.
Musical Journey and Collaborations
Gerald has played and recorded music with many famous jazz artists. Some of these include Roy Hargrove, Diana Krall, Dianne Reeves, and Charles Lloyd. Since 2013, he has toured and recorded a lot with saxophone legend Charles Lloyd.
In 2016, Gerald became the Musical Director for the Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour. This project featured his own trio, which included other great musicians like Ravi Coltrane, Nicolas Payton, and Raul Midón.
Family Connections
Gerald Clayton comes from a musical family. His father, John Clayton, is also a very well-known jazz bassist. Gerald often plays with the Clayton Brothers Quintet, which includes his father and uncle.
Awards and Recognitions
Gerald Clayton has received several important awards and nominations for his music.
Grammy Award Nominations
The Grammy Awards are a big deal in the music world. Gerald has been nominated for a Grammy Award several times:
- In 2009, he was nominated for "Best Improvised Jazz Solo" for his playing on the song "All of You." This was from his first album, Two-Shade.
- In 2010, he was nominated for "Best Instrumental Composition" for his song "Battle Circle." This song was on a Clayton Brothers album.
- His albums Bond: The Paris Sessions (2012) and Life Forum (2013) also received Grammy nominations for "Best Jazz Instrumental Album."
- In 2020, his live album Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard was nominated for "Best Jazz Instrumental Album." He also received another nomination for "Best Improvised Jazz Solo" for his playing on the song "Celia."
Other Awards
In 2011, Gerald won an Edison Award for "Best International Jazz Album" for his album Bond: The Paris Sessions.
Gerald's Music
Gerald Clayton has released several albums as a lead artist and has also collaborated on many other projects.
Studio Albums
- Two-Shade (2009)
- Bond: The Paris Sessions (2010)
- Life Forum (2013)
- Tributary Tales (2017)
- Bells On Sand (2022)
- Ones & Twos (2025)
- Ones & Twos: Expanded Edition (2025)
Live Albums
- Happening: Live at The Village Vanguard (2020)
Collaborations and Guest Appearances
Gerald has played piano on many albums for other artists. Some of these include:
- Reverence (2009) with Kendrick Scott
- Let Loose (2016) with Peter Bernstein
- Sanctuary (2019) with Matt Slocum and Larry Grenadier
- Short Stories (2023) with Vicente Archer
- Motion I (2024) with Out Of/Into
