No art form can remain creatively alive unless it is fed by an influx of young people, and jazz is no exception. Despite its evident vitality, one commonly hears laments that the old venues are dying and that jazz is an "old" form, lacking the critical new blood. In my view, nothing could be further from the truth. To be sure, the jazz club scene does remain precarious, the most recent victim being the music policy at "Louis 649" a nice bar in alphabet city that used to present emerging young folks. But other places appear - recent examples are Cachaca and Le Poisson Rouge (we'll see how much jazz really appears at that one), and others upgrade. More important, talented young artists appear all the time. Even if one restricts the conversation to pianists, several come immediately to mind: Aaron Parks, Jonathan Batiste, Aaron Diehl, John Escreet, and, especially, JazzNights next headliner, Gerald Clayton.

"...there just aren't a lot of pianists who have so much organized at such a young age."

Ben Ratliff in the NYT

Mr. Clayton, only 23, comes by his talent the old fashioned way; he inherited the proper genes from his father, bassist John Clayton and his uncle, reed player Jeff Clayton. He was born in Utrecht, but was raised in California, and came to New York in 2007. I first heard him at the 2006 Monk Competition at the Smithsonian. As an aside, let me recommend that competition. The Semifinals are the time to go - it's free for one thing, and not a media event like the finals. You get to hear about ten young people, all interesting, and some the future of the form. Mr. Clayton made the finals and ultimately finished second to Eric Lewis. My notes from the semis say, "There is variety and imagination all over this guy." I still agree.

His working trios have appeared at NY clubs (The Jazz Gallery, Kitano, The Jazz Standard) and the Kennedy Center in DC. He currently tours with Roy Hargrove's quintet, The Clayton Brothers, and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. His trio sets are a mix of standards, jazz classics, and a few originals. Their first CD is due out in January '09 (we'll probably get a preview in December). He also seems to have a nose for obscure, but good tunes by neglected composers like Duke Pearson (You Know I Care, Is That So?).

You can hear samples of his playing on his website:

http://www.geraldclayton.com/

Mr. Clayton will be joined by drummer Justin Brown, a regular member of his trio, and a rising star on his instrument. Mr. Brown was recognized early on as a prodigy, and attended summer jazz workshops at UC Berkeley and Stanford. Two years at the Brubeck Institute at the University of the Pacific were followed by a move to New York and a scholarship at Julliard.

As of this writing the bassist is the renowned Mr. TBA. Watch our website for an update as soon as we know who is coming!

If you want a peek at the future, and at some musicians sure to have an impact on the jazz scene for years to come, we'll see you at Judy and Michael's on the 6th!