2023 CHJO publicity pic

The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra


PAST EVENTS

April 9, Newbury Park, CA - Newbury Park HS - FREE concert (SOLD OUT)

4 February, Costa Mesa, CA - Dave Brubeck Centennial Celebration

with The Brubeck Brothers & Dianne Reeves - CLICK HERE FOR INFO. AND TICKETS

3 February, Bel Air, CA - Vibrato - CLICK HERE FOR INFO. AND TICKETS

*EUROPE:

*THE 2022 EUROPEAN TOUR HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FALL OF 2023.

UPDATES WILL BE POSTED AS WE CONFIRM NEW DATES.

7 March, Lucerne - CLICK HERE FOR INFO. AND TICKETS

9 March, Graz - CLICK HERE FOR INFO. AND TICKETS

*11 March, Budapest - Feat. special guest Gigi Radic - CLICK HERE FOR INFO. AND TICKETS

*For this concert only, the CHJO is excited to invite yet another special guest to join the celebration, Hungary’s own, Gigi Radic!

12 March, Vienna - CLICK HERE FOR INFO. AND TICKETS

*14 March, Brno - Feat. special guest Dan Barter - CLICK HERE FOR INFO. AND TICKETS

*For this concert only, the CHJO is excited to invite yet another special guest to join the celebration, Czech Republic’s own Dan Barter!
15 March, Leeuwarden/Netherlands - CLICK HERE FOR INFO. AND TICKETS

*16 March, Amsterdam - Feat. special guest Trijntje Oosterhuis - CLICK HERE FOR INFO. AND TICKETS

*For this concert only, the CHJO is excited to invite yet another special guest to join the celebration, Holland’s own, Trijntje Oosterhuis! 


(In celebration of Jeff L. Clayton)
(View Memorial)

 

THE CLAYTON-HAMILTON JAZZ ORCHESTRA (CHJO)

 

John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton and Jeff Clayton founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. While in their 20’s, John and Jeff Hamilton toured and recorded with Monty Alexander then moved on to separate big band environs. Jeff joined Woody Herman and John signed up for Count Basie. All along, Jeff Clayton had been performing and recording in Los Angeles. In 1986, the three men came together in L.A. and formed the Jazz Orchestra.
In 2020, Jeff Clayton passed away after a lengthy illness. The CHJO reminds audiences that his spirit remains in every note that is played.
The excitement of this powerful 19-piece band is the result of the band’s stellar performances and John’s writing.

Their music is composed and arranged by John, and it is not unusual to hear his take on a composition by Jeff Hamilton or something from the Hamilton trio book. 

Along with multiple Grammy© nominations, the orchestra is featured on recordings with Milt Jackson, Diana Krall, John Pizzarelli, Charles Aznavour, Ernie Andrews, Barbara Morrison, Natalie Cole and many more. 

From 1999-2001, they were the in-resident jazz orchestra for the Hollywood Bowl. Their busy schedule still finds them touring the U.S., Europe and Japan, often premiering extended works at jazz festivals and in concert halls. 

People often describe their sound as being influenced by Ellington, Basie and Thad Jones. This would never be denied by the orchestra, but one listen lets you know that their voice is unique, distinct and impactful.  

JOHN CLAYTON

Bassist, Composer, Arranger and Producer, John Clayton is a busy man. He is a Grammy© winner with nine additional nominations and has written and/or recorded with artists such as Milt Jackson, Diana Krall, Paul McCartney, Regina Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gladys Knight, Queen Latifah, McCoy Tyner, YoYo Ma and Charles Aznavour, to name only a few.

John was the principal bassist in the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (The Netherlands) from 1980-1984. In 1986, John co-founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and rekindled The Clayton Brothers Quintet. In addition to his individual clinics and workshops, he also directs the educational components of Centrum, The Port Townsend Jazz Festival, and the Vail Jazz Workshop.

It is John’s arrangement of the “Star Spangled Banner” that helped propel Whitney Houston in her 1990 performance at the Super Bowl (the recording went platinum). His recordings with the Clayton Brothers, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Milt Jackson, Monty Alexander, Count Basie and others are plentiful.

John feels “I’ve been guided by a village of musicians who helped me understand the humility that goes along with playing music at the highest level you can. Ray Brown used to tell me to ‘Learn how to play the bass!!’ Just take care of the music and it will take care of you.”

 

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