Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra

In 1986, John Clayton, Jeff Clayton and Jeff Hamilton came together to form the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. "When Jeff Hamilton and I were with Monty Alexander, one of the things that we did in our spare time was listening to some of the great big band records. We were absolutely in love with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band. We thought it'd be cool if someday we were involved with a big band. After leaving Monty Alexander, Jeff went with Woody Herman, I went with Basie, I moved to Holland, he moved to L.A. and played with the L.A. Four, and then I moved back to the States. When we got back together, we still thought that having a big band would be a great idea. My brother, who had lived in Los Angeles the whole time, knew all of the best players in the city and how compatible they were personality-wise, so he basically put the band together."

Although it was a bit illogical to form a new big band in the late 1980s, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra was a success from the start. One of its main strengths is that it has three co-leaders. "In the beginning my brother was responsible for getting the musicians, I was responsible for writing music that would get them to keep on coming back since they hated to rehearse, and Jeff Hamilton was responsible for finances which meant that Jeff Hamilton didn't have anything to do for a long long time! Since then things have changed.

To be a member of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, musicians not only have to be technically skilled and excellent jazz players but they need other qualities. "Musicians have to really want to be a part of our band and what we do. They have to show us through their devotion and dedication that they are not blowing smoke in our face. We don't want people to just want to have a gig. We want musicians who love what we do and want to be in this family. With us it is truly about the music and the camaraderie. It is family."

Thus far the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra has recorded six CDs: "Groove Shop" (Capri), "Heart And Soul" (Capri), "Absolutely" (Lake Street), "Explosive with Milt Jackson" (Qwest), "Shout Me Out" (Fable) and the most recent "Live At MCG" (MCG Jazz). The band had its own sound from the start and has continued to evolve. "I think what we are doing now is more sophisticated than what we were doing at the beginning. The element of swing is always going to be there and we do not want to deny it but we are also looking for other colors and other feelings. 'Like A Lover' on our most recent CD has sounds that were not a part of our early concept."

The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra was the house band at the Hollywood Bowl during 1999-2001, giving John Clayton, as Artistic Director of Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the opportunity to write for such guest artists as Stanley Turrentine, Milt Jackson, Jimmy Smith, Nancy Wilson and Shirley Horn. The orchestra has also recorded with John Pizzarelli, Gladys Knight and two recent albums with Diana Krall: a Christmas jazz project and a standards-oriented set (soon to be released). The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, which was named by the readers of Downbeat Magazine in 2004 as the top big band in jazz, is today considered one of jazz's great orchestras.

"Performing before a crowd that included most of the 6,000 to 7,000 attendees at the event, the orchestra gave a performance clearly illustrating its' potential to become one of the premier large jazz ensembles in the country." - Don Heckman, the Los Angeles Times

"The diversity of the band members, a cross-generational gathering of mostly L.A. based players, made for strong injections of personality and contrasting styles." - Bill Kohlhaase, The Los Angeles Times

"Talk about virtuosity, talk about versatility, talk about vehemence and verve, you've got to be talking about the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.  Bassist John Clayton who does the arranging for the band, is emerging as the finest creator in America, drummers don't stick it any better than Jeff Hamilton, alto sax players can't touch Jeff Clayton." - Wayne Thomas, CD Review

Referring to them as a sensational big band, in his review of their performance at the 1991 Monterey Jazz Festival, San Francisco Chronicle critic Jesse Hamlin praised the Orchestra as, Saturday night's high point, they're sensitive to nuance and dynamics, and they wail.

Of John Clayton, Scott Yanow wrote "when reviewing Groove Shop in CD Review, it is due highly to his inventive charts that the band's debut is such a success. His material recalls of the work of Thad Jones, as its memorable melodies and light feel combine with a strong sense of swing and lots of unexpected contrasts."

Wayne Thompson wrote of Jeff in JazzScene magazine, "Clayton holds nothing back, least of all the love he holds for jazz and the people with him, there is no doubt  when hearing him  blow, that he possesses that swooping sound reminiscent of Johnny Hodges,  the raw power of Cannonball Adderley and the voice clarity of Paul Desmond."

In his review of CHJO's Heard and Soul David Badham declared, This is one of the finest modern big band issues I've heard - This is undoubtedly due to Jeff Hamilton, as most driving and technically accomplished drummer; only Buddy Rich deserves to be mentioned in the same breath!

Jude Hibler stated in Jazz Link, "Hamilton is a lyrical drummer.  He provides a definite strong pattern for the rest of the musicians but is also melodic." In the case of bassist John Clayton, drummer Jeff Hamilton, and reedman Jeff Clayton, they are in accord musically, spiritually and philosophically.  Jazz, indeed, will continue to prosper with people such as these three who resonate, represent, and exemplify the best within music and people. - Jude Hibler

The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra may be heard on the following recordings:

• Trijntje Oosterhuis-Sundays in New York, with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra [EMI Import, 2011]
• Charles Aznavour and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (EMI France)
• Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra: Live at MCG (MCG Jazz)
• Christmas Songs-Diana Krall with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (Verve)
• Dear Mr Sinatra-John Pizzarelli and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (Telarc)
• Before Me-Gladys Knight with the CHJO (Verve)
• Let's Share Christmas with John Pizzarelli (RCA Records)
• Boogie Down with Ernestine Anderson (Concord Records)
• Heart & Soul (Capri Records)
• Absolutely! (Lake Street Records)
• Groove Shop (Capri Records) Grammy nomination!
• Explosive! Milt Jackson Meets the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (Qwest)
• Shout Me Out! (Fable Records)

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