Gerald Clayton supposes tradition and innovation can peacefully exist

At one-forth the age of jazz, New York based jazz pianist Gerald Clayton stakes his claim in the history and the present of jazz.
“Tradition and innovation can peacefully exist”, supposes the son of famous bassist John Clayton. However, his biography states, 'with Gerald behind the piano this coexistence anything but peaceful.'

‘His dynamic and award-winning sound has been praised in print by the Jazz Times and Los Angeles Times. The New York Times has saluted his “Oscar-Peterson like style” and “huge, authoritative presence” and Down Beat Magazine’s 2008 Readers’ Poll named him one of the top up-and-coming pianists to watch'.
As a composer, his work has been commissioned by the Jazz Gallery in New York City and performed overseas by the BBC Orchestra. He has received many honours including the US Presidential Scholar in the Art.
Born in the Netherlands in 1984, Gerald grew up mainly in Los Angeles with a musical family that includes his father, bassist/composer John Clayton, and uncle, saxophonist Jeff Clayton.

Gerald began an 11 years study of classical piano at age 6, later enrolled in a Jazz Studies program at the University of Southern California. Still later he would study piano and composition under masters like Kenny Barron
A current member of the siblings Clayton Brothers Quintet, Gerald can be heard on the Brothers latest release, Brother to Brother, as well as on Roy Hargrove’s 2008 Earfood, and Diana Krall’s From This Moment On. But, it is Gerald Clayton’s own New York City based trio, comprised of Justin Brown (drums) and Joe Sanders (bass) that provides the most direct opportunity to explore and expand his own thoughts in music.
Gerald Clayton’s Two-Shades CD drops in June.
Live at the Smalls: youtube.com!