Gerald Clayton

Gerald Clayton

New York pianist Gerald Clayton comes from a long line of Jazz musicians.  In his relatively compact career Clayton has managed to carve out a niche in the music through his playing and through the well-thought-out reasons behind the music he makes.

Clayton is in the process of producing his first album which will be released by Artists Share.

In advance of an appearance here in Central PA I asked Gerald about his music and his approach to improvising.

MFT -  On your Artist Share page you talk about your music being a balancing act.  Can you tell me what you mean by that?

GC – I say balancing act because I like to draw from all of the various musical styles that I love. If we had to describe music without using genre distinctions, we would have to refer to the emotions that the music evokes. I hope to find an honest way of expressing all of my emotions through music, which means drawing upon various types of sounds and styles. Similar to making a big stew, an artist has to use his or her judgement as to the right balance of ingredients.

MFT – I suspect that growing up in a musical family gave you a special respect for the traditions and history of this music. How do you maintain a respectful attitude without becoming a clone off that which has come before you?

GC – I remember being a kid and going to a lot of sound checks and rehearsals with my dad. I saw a whole bunch of grown men smiling and laughing, greeting each other with hugs. It was a very loving environment to be in. I think it’s the love for music that makes musicians treat each other and the history with respect. There’s no commandments that we’re forced to follow (Thou shall always respect the tradition). It’s just a natural thing to show respect to that which we love.