John Clayton

I wrote this theme for a larger work I did for the Monterey Jazz Festival called Stories Of A Groove: Conception, Evolution, Celebration. This movement, Tidal Wave, reflects what many people in our society felt while living under a certain administration. I understand that others might feel the same outrage when they feel they aren’t represented by the administration in power. Such is the nature of the socio-political beast.

Tidal Wave is essentially variations on a theme that I intentionally don’t present clearly. Even though I mask it, the piece loosely borrows from the harmonic structure and melodic fragments of the famous Chopin Prelude in C minor. Since my childhood days, I’ve always loved this romantic melody.

I can’t tell you exactly how all these elements — the politics, the anger, the romance, the criminal justice reform — came together in one piece. As I write this, I wonder how schizophrenic I must be??!! 

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, Regina Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gladys Knight, Queen Latifah, and Charles Aznavour have had spots on his crowded calendar.

Career highlights include arranging the 'Star Spangled Banner" for Whitney Houston's performance at Super Bowl 1990 (the recording went platinum), playing bass on Paul McCartney's CD “Kisses On The Bottom,” arranging and playing bass with Yo-Yo Ma and Friends on "Songs of Joy and Peace," and arranging playing and conducting the 2009 CD "Charles Aznavour With the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra," and numerous recordings with Diana Krall, the Clayton Brothers, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz, Orchestra, Milt Jackson, Monty Alexander and many others.