Senior Lecturer of Jazz Studies

Instruments/Expertise: Bass

(213) 740-3119 phone
jcjcbass@earthlink.net
MUS 304

Biography

John Clayton, senior lecturer, jazz studies, has gained prominence as a bassist, composer and arranger in both the jazz and classical fields. After studying bass under the esteemed Ray Brown, Mr. Clayton was bassist for the television series The Mancini Generation, after which he recorded and toured internationally with jazz pianist Monty Alexander. He then began a two-year association with Count Basie and his orchestra. After serving five years as principal bass with the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, he relocated to Los Angeles in 1984 and took up conducting, composing and co-leading the Clayton Brothers Quartet and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. The Orchestra won the Los Angeles Times' esteemed jazz critic Leonard Feather's prestigious 26th- and 27th- annual "Golden Feather Award" as the "Best Big Band."

Mr. Clayton has gained worldwide attention for his many award-winning compositions and arrangements. He has written for, among others, the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, American Jazz Philharmonic, Iceland Symphony, Metropole Orchestra (Holland), Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Carnegie Hall Big Band and the Amsterdam Philharmonic. As a conductor, he has led the Israel Philharmonic, Metropole, Munich Radio, Northwest Chamber and Iceland orchestras as well as numerous professional big bands. Mr. Clayton has been nominated for three Grammy awards: in 1991 for his composition "Brush This;" in 1996 for his arrangement for Natalie Cole singing the classic "Teach Me Tonight;" and in 1998 for his arrangement of "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" on Dee Dee Bridgewater's latest recording, Dear Ella. He was awarded a platinum record for his arrangement of "The Star Spangled Banner" for Whitney Houston. He also arranged "God Bless America" for Diana Ross for the inaugural festivities for President Clinton.

In November 1998, he was appointed the artistic director of jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and the Hollywood Bowl, and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra was named the Hollywood Bowl's resident jazz ensemble.