Award-Winning New York Jazz Pianist, Gerald Clayton plays live for Byron Janis

"It is an honor to pay tribute to this legend of the piano. To hear Byron Janis breathe life into the music of Chopin, Rachmaninov, Liszt, and so many others is breathtaking. He is a remarkable artist and human being."
- Gerald Clayton
Gerald Clayton was born on May 11, 1984 in Utrecht, The Netherlands and moved to the United States at a young age. Gerald grew up in a musical family (his father is bassist/composer John Clayton and his uncle saxophonist Jeff Clayton) and was exposed to a variety of musical styles from a very young age. He studied classical piano with Mrs. Linda Buck and jazz piano and composition with Shelly Berg, Kenny Barron and Billy Childs.
Gerald has received numerous awards over the past years, including the Music Center Spotlight Awards in 2001. In 2002 Gerald was presented with the "level 1" award by the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts (NFAA), was named Presidential Scholar in the Arts and received a scholarship award from the Music for Youth Foundation. He also received the Shelley Manne Award for emerging young artists from the Los Angeles Jazz Society. In September of 2006, Gerald received Second Place in the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute Jazz Piano Competition.
Despite his young age, Gerald has already performed extensively with numerous outstanding musicians including pianists Benny Green, Mulgrew Miller and Kenny Barron, trumpeter Clark Terry, drummer Lewis Nash and trumpeter Roy Hargrove.
Gerald is a Yamaha Artist.

[@danroux4010]

He's not afraid to take chances with this jazz classic and manages to add plenty of lovely and unpredictable texture and nuance.

[@ceebee4750]

I absolutely LOVE Gerald Clayton. He takes you to that place that has nothing to do with where you are, and everything with where you want to be.

[@tedl7538]

Amazing voicings and a striking, fluid sense of rhythm. Jazz piano by the best just continues to evolve in fantastic ways.

[@vincentcaruso]

It's a mystery if and how much of this was planned and how much was original on the spot. The point is that the summation of this Gershwin classic is that it sings, swings and sways, and melts with a lovely tenderness in a perfectly rhythmed song. Love it.

[@JM-fc9gm]

Jazz is where you take notes and splatter them on a canvas. Like listening to a work of art. So many textures, tones, feelings.

[@FlaThunderstorm]

A couple of years ago my wife and I drove down to Miami to see the incredible Hiromi Uehara. Gerald Clayton opened the program with Hiromi to follow. He was born in Holland but educated in the US and a Manhattan School of Music graduate. For the poster who stated he doesn't read staff music. Well, he would not have been able to graduate from MSM without that capability. In Miami he got a standing ovation from the 5,000 in the audience. He was so humble that, after he played, he gave an introductory for Hiromi and stated "ladies and gentlemen now you are going to hear a truly great pianist, Hiromi Uehara". I thought that he was a truly great pianist, also and a really decent person.

[@carlomorena9759]

Davison Horst Honestly, much more intriguing, musical and true than Hiromi.

[@selbstverstandlichkeithabs8372]

A lovely comment, thank you for sharing

[@Beterebeca1]

Thanks for sharing! He certainly IS great!

[@Dognacity]

@@carlomorena9759 honestly, I don’t know why people feel they need to elevate one great jazz player over another. Sure, you may just like one more than another, but there is no reason to look at them like crabs trying to crawl out of a pot. They are not pulling each other down, why should you? Hiromi is the best. So is Clayton. And so is Jarrett… and many others. It’s the original self expression, and that is not up for objective debate. Rather it should be all embraced.

[@chrismartin1961]

Truly an inspiring piece of improvisation in the Bill Evens genre. Love it to bits. Very hard to transcribe this solo but doable.

[@DeborahDavisSings]

Gerald, I've been a HUGE FAN since that one time you played with me. This is so lovely and enchanting. Captivating and relaxing. Was just thinking what can I find for my 4am mood. I believe this is it. Respect!

[@DihelsonMendonca]

His sense of harmony and overall knowledge is fantastic !

[@DanielaNicolae]

it's great! thanks a lot for this version.

[@iamceeko]

Such an amazing piece.

[@insooleedat1asiandude]

beautiful

[@angelawolcottmusic6887]

I could listen to you play all day! Extraordinary! 🎶

[@mikekempsgaragejazz6626]

Came across Gerald purely by chance. So glad I did, what an enthralling player.

[@MartinJuncal]

This man is awesome... excellent technique !

[@ameliachan7925]

Absolutely captivating.

[@midnightpianoman]

I really enjoyed this imaginative performance. Thank you for a wonderful time！

[@bensherman5163]

It's called Embraceable You. Thank you so much for recording this. It's incredible.

[@Hannesber]

Gerald is such a great piano player! Chapeau

[@colorsedge1568]

Brilliant abstract motion art!

[@Clodadine]

A wonderful pianist ! I love him !

[@Fogaata]

Such a pleasure, selfless music. Natural interpreter! He's fantastic! Thank you!

[@alexvalstef2]

I always love to see the pianist's expression when playing. It's like they're almost surprised of what's coming out of their fingers sometimes. They really find themselves in another realm together with the music where they are truely one.

[@ferycofriend7068]

wow amazing

[@user-ug1qs8bo4w]

Stunning, innovative, fantastic sense of time. What a ride!

[@lindacox3062]

Recording is excellent!!!

[@latibes]

Awesome playing

[@jazzerson7087]

Incredible reharmonizations!!

[@cerval41]

He is a really great pianist!

[@ManZa]

Superbe interpretation... Quel groove, quelle technique... Congratulations !

[@fabiomand]

Great sound. Traditional jazz.

[@S24W2]

Great stuff

[@williammaestre9318]

Wonderful artist, eclectic pianist, his depth is recognized when he listens to the jazz of all times. Honor your family and your music

[@mpashe10]

I'm just learning about this Mr. Clayton, but I will do all I can to support and promote this amazingly masterful young genius from now on...Bravo!

[@polijunk2]

first discovered him here kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmG6iXiwrL-CrJI with Roy Hargrove. appears to be a different person - temperamentally. If this is 2012, he seems even younger in 2022 with Hargrove! same hairdo! great player

[@AndiGundlach]

meine Fresse! - ganz großes Kino!!! Respekt from Germany!

[@x-loyalxxkilosic2159]

Krass stimmt;) der Typ ist echt gut.. Das alles sieht so einfach aus für Leute die keine Ahnung haben vob Musik..dahinter steckt so ein krankes Wissen und so eine große Erfahrung..

[@JonasLangeby]

World's best jazz piano player

[@jputterman26]

Certainly among the best, but as Gerald himself would say: there's no way to judge genius.

[@abellizandro3550]

He’s great, but , we have some that are in a higher level such as Cuban Chucho Valdez , American Chick Corea . But no doubt he’s amazing

[@masonhmusic]

@@abellizandro3550 I love chucho valdes

[@pimenteross]

Impecable pianista.

[@lisocampos8080]

That's going on my favorites.

[@TehWinnerz]

totally great

[@davidecasarotti1449]

Un vero pianista con un discorso convincente sulla tastiera del pianoforte! Very good!!! Exellent!!!!

[@victoriairias7703]

His hands wow😍

[@ollieisit]

Just simply fantastic. He goes brave but doesn't fuck it up. I think this is an astonishing talent. ... i love the way he gives himself a slice of indulgence but backs away before it gets too much. Genius.

[@mauronicolascanseco1643]

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[@freddylebanon]

I feel good and humble

[@Kassiusday]

As piano beginner learning from classical music with aim to play jazz .. is interesting one is rigid and strict and the other one is flexible and improvised ( classical music vs jazz music ) very interesting ..,

[@RayLanmusic]

Masterpiece

[@iwishyourlove46]

Preciosas manos e increíble gestualidad que embellecen su extraordinario talento pianístico...Sus manos parecen acariciar el teclado.

[@abellizandro3550]

Bravissimo

[@sibonocebanto3764]

Dont know anything about jazz piano, but just loves his playing.

[@VioletRosesmith]

Gerald Clayton, constantly looks like a 2nd iteration Dragon Curve. Awesome

[@paulofurquim8545]

Ouçam o som sofisticado deste pianista Gerld Clayton.

[@insanilogoritmipublishing839]

semplicemente magnifico

[@isabellagrandi5797]

genial!!

[@dianrose7718]

good and success

[@fforthem]

Beautiful! from South Korea

[@onetwoBias]

Wow pure magic! :)

[@itsjking6850]

Mmmmmhhhummm this is sweet stuff✌👌👏

[@lucacugini9157]

Questa e' magia

[@johnnymac3153]

Geralds' one of my favorite jazz pianists-beautiful find

[@Jorge_Seca]

¡Ole!

[@drlluc]

wow

[@marz444]

This is killer

[@pepperwilliams4428]

Dit is heel goed! Hij is een uitstekend pianist die doet me denken aan Bill Evans:)

[@marcjacko]

👌

[@omarmontoya1055]

muy creativo

[@clkvlk]

Award-winning NY jazz pianist.. we appreciate his artistry without any unnecessary accolades. Such marketing gimmicks are futile for the well-informed.

[@crono303]

Juno Arreglado I doubt you still care about getting an answer to your question, but I'm 90% sure that it's a double diminished voicing planing with the melody. I don't have a piano to check, but I think it's the voicing that's a 2nd inversion major triad with a tritone below. Ex. (bottom to top) Db G C E. G A D F#. Ab Bb Eb G. Bb C F A.

[@Mdmamun-dt4wb]

nice

[@davidrosen9711]

Killing

[@dajunonator]

whats the voicing he does at 1:50? the one where he takes it up three times along the melody

[@paulprocopolis]

Cool - a nicely developed 'fantasy', nice piano sound, nice tribute! Does BJ like jazz?

[@Qdawwg]

what tune is this?

[@slothboss9482]

What is the title called?

[@kalebshelton-johnson3372]

Where would I find a transcription of this?

[@johnnymac3153]

Who is that couple pictured in the background?

[@kendricbaines2415]

4:15-4:35 O.O whew.

[@lalisweety9124]

Award-Winning New York Jazz Pianist, Gerald Clayton plays live for Byron Janis

[@justinvilleabakuk68]

yes I am ...

[@LukeTheringMusic]

ahhhhhhhhhhhh

[@AndyH0024]

Nick Cage at 1:40

[@chrisXDfull]

lololol

[@user-te1zm6dz8q]

With dreads

[@iNotJackieChan]

amazing

[@MilesDeep]

FunForLouis??

[@Bushwack5555]

I'd love to hear him play this on a Steinway, with it's more bell-like beautiful tone.

[@Bushwack5555]

+Cheshire Cat Don't get me wrong - Yamahas are good -very good, even. But as a semiretired piano tech/tuner, my favorite pianos to tune were Steinways, because they can actually be tuned pretty much by the book - no messing around with improperly beating partials, or strings that actually have their own little cancelations going on (I tuned mostly homeowner-type pianos- the only kind with strings THAT bad). Steinways are easy to get a good tuning out of, because Steinway seems to have perfected the science of getting as clean a sound out of a hammered string as possible.

[@zzausel]

+Cheshire Cat There are two very different types of Steinway. Indeed tuning is easier an American ones, but the best sound worldwide comes from those of Hamburg.

[@tedl7538]

Not, me, I've always loved the tone of a big Yamaha grand.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Me neither. Plus, this Yamaha sings. I've heard it played in Classical music and it sings with the best of them. I do like Bosendorfer though.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

He's a Yamaha artist. He'll only play other pianos when no Yamahas are available.

[@markotto6959]

a modern approach,

[@yuehshih4449]

whats the name of the song ? anyone knows?

[@andrewcarnegie589]

Aww c'mon......come to Poppa, come to Poppa do ...---------------------?

[@danroux4010]

Embraceable You

[@TheMrefe96]

3:12

[@pianoaround]

Loved your video! You might like my videos too!

[@user-os9hk1kw6l]

담에 카피할게 이런식으로 치면 곤란해 나도

[@eddyvideostar]

I wonder what he would look like with his hair let down? What a miss.

[@carlosreboucas3262]

Sounds better than Bill !!

[@wanderleyapparecidovieira2282]

Too much slow...don't open the dream valve in our mind...

[@FlaThunderstorm]

Sorry. Have to disagree. As far as pure jazz goes I don't think that any pianist betters Bill Evans. Gerald Clayton is very good. But, certainly not in the same class as Bill Evans. Evans was classically trained, as was Clayton, and graduated from the Mannes School of Music at Southeastern Louisiana University at a time when very few people even went to college. Evans played with and influenced some of the best musicians in the business for his entire career. He was also a composer and arranger, not just a performer. Bill Evans is probably the most admired and imitated in all of the jazz music venue.

[@otnas001]

Hey I agree that Bill Evans is one of the greats. However, in terms of 'pure Jazz' for want of a better term, he did not play in the style of the true Blues, Swing, Groove, etc elements which reflect the African American experience like say Art Tatum, Bud Powell, Monk, Red Garland etc. Bill brought a different approach which influenced many pianist; especially with his chord voicings. His contribution to this great music was immense, however I have to disagree with your statement. That's just my view anyway.

[@Madinko12]

otnas001 probably because "pure jazz" doesn't exist anyways.

[@georgeallan6550]

Boring right from the start.

[@vova47]

Must have been an easy award to win,,,(:)) Stiff and not particularly swinging performance hugely indebted to venerable Hank Jones but nowhere near his mastery (good model nevertheless)..... But then, he must have been nervous playing for great Byron Janis, so another time, maybe?.......

[@JacopoMazza]

Are you joking?

[@vova47]

Jacopo Mazza I never joke about such serious matters as music awards....(:))

[@anothercath]

vova47 Hahaha..I see you're joking about that too right? Because music awards isn't as serious right?

[@benjaminmillermusic]

a tone deaf analysis...

[@kendricbaines2415]

vova47 i know you said this years ago. So i wont say much. But for you to say that its easy to win means you would've won right lol. I would love to here you play sometime.

[@ManilaSayang]

Not good. He can't read music. I like the original one by Gershwin. (transcribed by Earl Wild???)

[@billiongenius]

Why do you thin he can't read music?

[@DihelsonMendonca]

This is Jazz, land of creativity. Reading music doesn´t turn anyone into a musician. A musician is so much complex than reading papers.

[@kinojoach]

Hahaha

[@ManilaSayang]

Andrew Adelson What's brilliant about it? He just gilded the lilly. Would you "fix up" the Versailles Palace by painting it with different colors? No you won't, you'd most probably just decrease its value. Would you improve the Mona Lisa by applying lipstick on her? Hell, no. Don't mess with original works.

[@sayb6167]

Classical musicians used to improvise cadenzas centuries ago. Long before jazz. I guess musicians in Beethoven's time couldn't read music since improvising= inability to read music