With closed eyes, the pianist leans in towards the keyboard and plays a chromatic waterfall. While listening to the lingering sound, he glances to his left at the bassist who continues the flow by gently plucking the strings of his bass. Amidst the relaxed atmosphere, the drummer taps the cymbal lightly, creating a mellow swinging pulse.

On January 20, the Gerald Clayton Trio visited the Upper School to coach students at a master class in the afternoon and to share their enthusiasm for jazz at a concert in the evening. The concert was the second of four of the 2011 to 2012 Concert Series.

For some students who attended the concert, it offered a new perspective of jazz music.

“I usually listen to classical music, so it was nice to listen to a new [genre] of music,” Sahithya Prakash (10), whose brother plays jazz, said. “It was also a really soothing thing for a Friday night.”

Established in New York City, the trio is comprised of pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Matt Brewer, and drummer Justin Brown. Although their concert at the Upper School was one of their first gigs together as a trio, they have shared experiences in the jazz industry together in the past.

“In this music there’s a lot of mixing and matching, so we get to play in various settings with a lot of different musicians, “ Clayton said in an interview with the Winged Post. “We’re all familiar with each other’s playing, and this is certainly a common ground.”

The three members of the trio were exposed to music at a young age, as they all come from families of musicians. Clayton grew up in a musical environment with his father, a bassist, and his uncle, a saxophonist, in Los Angeles. Brewer’s father is a jazz artist, and Brown, a native Californian from Oakland, was influenced by his mother, who is also a musician.

“Home is where the heart is, [and for me,] it’s California,” Brown said. “I always love coming back [to perform]. It’s different, but it feels good.”

For Clayton, Brewer, and Brown, music has always been a significant facet of their lives.

“I don’t think of it as a career. I just really love music and playing it.” Brewer said. “Now, I can’t imagine my life without music or having any other kind of job. It’s really a blessing to be able to do what you love.”

In addition to performing, Clayton has released two albums that have both been nominated for the Grammy Awards: Two Shade and Bond. The records also feature Brown on the drums and bassist Joe Sanders.

While the concert incorporated iconic classics of jazz music such as “Blame it on My Youth,” “All the Things You Are,” and “Body and Soul,” it also featured the trio’s own originals including “Major Hope.”

“We play from the heart, and whatever comes out, comes out,” Clayton said.
The trio plans to release more albums together in the future following their return to New York.

The next performance of the Concert Series will take place on February 4, featuring pianist Adam Golka.