Ann Arbor, MI  - The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance presents the 2008 Jazz Festival Feature Concert in honor of Ray Brown Day, with guest artist The Clayton Brothers Quintet on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at the Power Center in Ann Arbor at 8:00 p.m.  The concert will also feature the University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Ellen Rowe. 

Highlights of the concert will include John Clayton conducting the Jazz Ensemble in his arrangement of “Squatty Roo” an iconic composition written by Johnny Hodges for the Duke Ellington Orchestra and “moss Code”, an original composition by Michael Mossman that will feature UM jazz faculty professor Michael Gould.  The concert will end with a composition for six basses, written as a tribute to his mentor, Ray Brown, by John Clayton who will join Doug Stuart (student, University of Michigan), Marion Hayden (faculty, University of Michigan), Diana Gannett (faculty, University of Michigan), Rodney Whitaker (faculty, Michigan State University), and Robert Hurst (faculty University of Michigan) onstage.

NPR will broadcast portions of the concert on an edition of their nationally syndicated show “JazzSet with DeeDee Bridgewater” that will be aired in the summer of 2008.

The Jazz Festival Feature Concert is the capstone to the University of Michigan Jazz Festival, a day-long event that features adjudication of high school jazz bands and combos by jazz artists Michael Mossman, Antonio Hart and UM jazz faculty members Marion Hayden and Ellen Rowe.  There will also be master classes offered by faculty members Geri Allen, Robert Hurst, Michael Gould, Ed Sarath, Andrew Bishoip and Dennis Wilson. All of these events are free and open to the public and will take place at the School of Music, Theatre and Dance’s Moore Building on the North Campus.  As part of the Festival there will be a panel discussion with John Clayton, Marion Hayden, Rodney Whitaker, and Robert Hurst with moderator Linda Yohn (WEMU) about the life and career of Ray Brown.  The lecture takes place at 1:00 p.m. in the Duderstadt Center Video Studio, located on the University of Michigan North Campus.
 

JOHN CLAYTON, BASS

As a masterful bassist, arranger, bandleader and educator, John Clayton is a consistently inspiring figure. He epitomizes the best in jazz and music in general in his professionalism, reliability and consistency, yet he is also creative, innovative, distinctive and always swinging. Whether as an articulate spokesman for the music or functioning as part of a rhythm section, John Clayton is a major force.

Still, it is remarkable just how productive John Clayton is in a typical year. He is the co-leader of the acclaimed Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (with his brother altoist Jeff Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton), an ensemble for whom he not only conducts and plays bass but writes the music. He is a key member of the Clayton Brothers Quintet. Clayton is the Education Director for the Vail Jazz Foundation, the Director for the Port Townsend Festival, part of the in-house rhythm section at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and is involved with the Ray Brown bass camp. He has produced recent recordings by violinist Regina Carter and singer Sara Gazarek, provided arrangements for vocalist Michael Buble (for which he received one of two Grammy nominations in 2006) and worked on recordings involving the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with Gladys Knight, John Pizzarelli and Diana Krall. He is also the Jazz Studies bass professor at the University of Southern California, teaches privately and is working on a commissioned piece for the Monterey Jazz Festival. He wrote the platinum selling arrangement of The Star Bangled Banner sung by Whitney Houston during half time at the 1991 Super Bowl. He has received a total of six Grammy nominations. He is the past president of the International Society of Bassists and has served as President of the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers for the past three years. And that is just a list of some of his major recent activities.

THE CLAYTON BROTHERS QUINTET

John's younger brother Jeff Clayton had developed into a major alto-saxophonist during the years that he was away. Upon his return to Los Angeles, John played in groups with Jeff on an occasional basis and in 1978 they thought that making a recording would be a good idea. "I mentioned to Ray Brown that my brother Jeff and I would love to do a Clayton Brothers record together and I was wondering if Carl Jefferson of Concord would be interested. Ray said 'I don't know, let me see if I could set it up for you.'" As usual, Ray Brown came through. With pianist Patrice Rushen, guitarist Ron Eschete and Jeff Hamilton (who was back in Los Angeles), he and his brother recorded The Clayton Brothers, Jeff & John (Concord). In addition to the catchy instrumentals, the LP was highlighted by John's talking on "Walkin' Bass," a humorous monologue that he learned from bassist Keeter Betts. With pianist Roger Kellaway and guitarist Emily Remler joining the Clayton Brothers and Hamilton, the group recorded their follow-up It's All In The Family (Concord) in 1980.

The Clayton Brothers have toured and recorded regularly through the years. In 1991, they recorded "The Music" (Capri) as a quartet with pianist Bill Cunliffe and Jeff Hamilton. In 1997 they recorded "Expressions" (Qwest) with Cunliffe on piano and Herlin Riley on drums. In 2000, the band became a quintet again recording Siblingity (Qwest) with the addition of trumpeter Terell Stafford and the return of Jeff Hamilton.

The most recent recording by the Clayton Brothers is Back in the Swing of Things (Hyena), featuring the co-leaders, Hamilton, Stafford and Cunliffe in an infectious blend of bop, blues, ballads and swing.

In 2007 John’s son Gerald Clayton joined the quintet on piano.  Gerald was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk Jazz Piano Competition and is currently on tour with trumpeter Toy Hargrove.

RAY BROWN

Ray Brown (1936-2002) is considered to be one of the masters of jazz bass.   Born in Pittsburgh, he went to New York City where he was introduced to Dizzy Gillespie, who, once hearing him play, hired him on the spot.  He was a founding member of the Modern Jazz Quartet.  He was married to Ella Fitzgerald for five years.  After an incredibly successful career in the New York jazz scene, where he played with such greats Art Tatum, Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson and Hank Jones, he moved to Los Angeles.  There he was in high demand for television show orchestras and accompanied some of the leading artists of the day, including Nancy Wilson, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughn and Billy Eckstine.  He won a Grammy for Gravy Waltz.  In addition to being a performer, he also managed a number of musicians, including Quincy Jones and Diana Krall.

RAY BROWN & JOHN CLAYTON

John Clayton first heard Ray Brown on a recording of The Trio by the Oscar Peterson Trio.  He asked his teacher if he had ever heard of this guy named Ray Brown. 'Oh, sure,' he replied, 'He's a very good friend of mine.' I was shocked. I was more shocked when he went to his desk and found a letter from Ray Brown that read, 'Dear Mr. Siegel: Would you please inform your students that I will be teaching an extension course at UCLA entitled Workshop In Jazz Bass?' That was my last lesson with Mr. Siegel although we remained close friends. I immediately enrolled in the course and I still remember the feeling in my stomach when Ray walked through those doors at UCLA and my bass life truly began. He was bigger than life."

Ray Brown had a major impact on John Clayton's life. It was not that Clayton ended up sounding exactly like Brown, but that he learned from his example and was inspired to develop into himself.   Ray Brown was responsible for several of Clayton's early gigs. 

Clayton is still inspired by the advice that Ray Brown freely gave him. "He used to tell me that people were amazed that he could get his sound while playing their instrument. He would say 'The sound is not in the bass, it's in your head.' Now, when I pick up the bass, I don't just draw the bow across the strings. I have a sound in my head that I would like to hear. If I don't hear it coming out of the bass, my body automatically starts doing what it can to find that sound."

For tickets or additional information, contact the League Ticket Office at 734-764-2538 or online at
www.music.umich.edu . Tickets may also be purchased in person at the door or at the League Ticket Office (911 North University Avenue). The LeagueTicket Office is open: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., closed Sunday.

Guest Artist The Clayton Brothers Quintet

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Power Center (121 Fletcher, Ann Arbor)

Tickets  $25 and $18

League Ticket Office  734-764-2538