GERALD CLAYTON: Life Forum
Concord, 2013

MAINSTREAM JAZZ – One of the fastest-rising pianists in jazz, 28-year old Gerald Clayton has a deeply soulful style that’s so easy to listen to you may not realize how much modern jazz complexity lurks within it. His third album features a very strong young band that includes three Berkeley High alumni: Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet), Dayna Stephens (tenor sax), and Justin Brown (drums). Three vocalists add yet another layer of soul. Wow, there’s some really nice stuff here.

All worth a listen. Fo’s Picks: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11

1. 2:53 – spoken poetry (Carl Hancock Rux) within a rising soul flow
2. 4:52 – galloping midtempo: horns set it up, piano rides the wave
3. 6:38 – relaxed rolling flow: cool underlying rhythm, oblique trumpet/piano
4. 4:18 – trio: little clusters of piano notes weave thru sneaky rhythmic patter
5. 5:27 – mysterious melancholy: light patter/wordless vox (Gretchen Parlato)
6. 5:39 – sweet vocal ballad (Sachal Vasandani) w/piano; full band in middle
7. 4:47 – playful piano/drum duet: light samba beat and happy melody/improv
8. 1:00 – prelude to #9, filtered soulful melody drifts into clarity…
9. 5:38 – beautiful ballad surge: piano/trumpet reach over bittersweet anthem
10. 5:16 – serene ebb & flow with wordless vocal trio, spirited sax solo
11. 3:57 – serious trio, really tight sound with a deep/playful piano solo
12. 9:28 – piano & duet vocal (Parlato/Vasandani): hushed, ethereal, aching… then trio (piano/sax/bass) swings in second half

[ Fo ] - 5 May 2013