Boogablues

Two-Shade

6.06

Born in the Netherlands in 1984, Gerald grew up mainly in Los Angeles with a musical family that includes his father, bassist/composer John Clayton, and uncle, saxophonist Jeff Clayton. At the age of six Gerald began eleven years study of classical piano with Linda Buck before enrolling in the Jazz Studies program at the University of Southern California.† In college in Los Angeles and a year at the   Manhattan School of Music, Gerald studied piano and composition under Shelly Berg, Billy Childs, and Kenny Barron

Professionally, Gerald has had the honor of performing nationally and internationally with some of the most established names in Jazz such as Lewis Nash, Al Foster, Terrell Stafford and Clark Terry. Duo piano concerts with Gerald have featured artists as celebrated and diverse as Hank Jones, Benny Green, Kenny Barron, Mulgrew Miller and Tamir Hendelman. Gerald also relishes playing with Jazz's next generation of innovators: Ambrose Akinmusire, Dayna Stephens, Kendrick Scott and many others.        

From 2006-2008, Gerald toured extensively with...

(Read More)

Born in the Netherlands in 1984, Gerald grew up mainly in Los Angeles with a musical family that includes his father, bassist/composer John Clayton, and uncle, saxophonist Jeff Clayton. At the age of six Gerald began eleven years study of classical piano with Linda Buck before enrolling in the Jazz Studies program at the University of Southern California.† In college in Los Angeles and a year at the   Manhattan School of Music, Gerald studied piano and composition under Shelly Berg, Billy Childs, and Kenny Barron

Professionally, Gerald has had the honor of performing nationally and internationally with some of the most established names in Jazz such as Lewis Nash, Al Foster, Terrell Stafford and Clark Terry. Duo piano concerts with Gerald have featured artists as celebrated and diverse as Hank Jones, Benny Green, Kenny Barron, Mulgrew Miller and Tamir Hendelman. Gerald also relishes playing with Jazz's next generation of innovators: Ambrose Akinmusire, Dayna Stephens, Kendrick Scott and many others.        

From 2006-2008, Gerald toured extensively with Roy Hargrove in his quintet, big band, and funk group and he is currently a member of the Clayton Brothers Quintet.† He can be heard on the Clayton Brothers' latest release, "Brother to Brother," as well as Hargrove's 2008 ‘Earfood’,  and Diana Krall's ‘From This Moment On’.

But it is Gerald's own trio, based in New York City and comprised of Justin Brown (drums) and Joe Sanders (bass) that provide him the most direct opportunity to explore and expand his own thoughts in music. Following upon their touring in Europe and the U.S., where they were praised for balancing a "deconstructive aesthetic" with "a stronghold on the swing factor," Gerald and his trio are set to   release their debut album, ‘Two Shade’, this year on Emarcy.

Gerald relishes a sense of open-mindedness: "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 into a balanced, tasteful musical language."

(Shrink Biography)