John Clayton

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JOHN CLAYTON PRESS BIO
John Clayton The sheer wizardry of his arco bass playing.... The patience he exhibits with his students... The provocative notes he chooses when he composes... The empathy he shows when he produces.... The scintillating sounds he coaxes from musicians when he conducts...pale in comparison to his charisma when you just hear him swing! And swing he does. John Clayton co-leads both the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and the Clayton Brothers Quintet. In addition, he is bass professor at the University of Southern California, Jazz Studies Department. He also serves as Artistic Director for the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, as well as Artistic Director for the Centrum Jazz Workshop in Port Townsend, Washington. Upon graduating from Indiana University, Mr. Clayton toured with Monty Alexander, Count Basie, and then served as principal bassist with the Amsterdam Philharmonic from 1980-84. He has composed and/or arranged for many ensembles and artists, including the Northwest Chamber Ensemble, WDR big band, American Jazz Philharmonic, Quincy Jones, Diana Krall, Dr. John, Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole, Nancy Wilson, Queen Latifah, Count Basie and many others. His compositions and arrangements are published by Hal Leonard Publishers. He has received 7 Grammy nominations, including his most recent for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist for "I'm Gonna Live Till I Die" for Queen Latifah, from the album Trav'lin' Light.
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JOHN CLAYTON, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE LIONEL HAMPTON JAZZ FESTIVAL ACCEPTS THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES AT THE WHITE HOUSE, NOV. 15, 2007
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