That unknown does not mean unloved certainly applies to the still very new career of pianist Gerald Clayton. Not yet twenty-five years old and he has already proven himself to more than just a promising artist. And the young have energy, as shown by the many line-ups in which Clayton plays. For example, he was to be found in the musical company of Lewis Nash, Al Foster, Terrell Stafford and Clark Terry. Between 2006 and 2008 he toured without interruption with Roy Hargrove. Recently, he joined the Clayton Brothers Quintet and you can hear him on that band's latest album
Brother to Brother as well as on Hargrove's
Earfood (released in 2008) and Diana Krall's
From This Moment On. Clayton is at his best in his own trio with Justin Brown (drums) and Joe Sanders (bass). In this line-up, his playing has the room it needs to add something special to the tradition of great pianists. In June 2009, he released his long-awaited debut album entitled
Two-Shade.
