Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra

[Free For All]

I saw this group live last weekend, and I must say it was absolutely SMOKIN"!!

If you ever get the chance to see this band live, do it! John Clayton's beautiful composing/arranging is firmly rooted in the Basie/Thad tradition, but seems to be finding its own niche. Jeff Hamilton is one of the most (if not THE most) swinging big band drummers ever and plays with a lot of joy and humor. This band burns and has a great time doing it.

I'd never seen them live, it was really something. John Clayton conducts (there is another bassist in the band, but Clayton plays on several tunes) and that in itself is something to watch. I had just finished about eight hours of adjudicating high school and college bands and was pretty fried- the last thing I was in the mood for was MORE big band. Well, after the CHJO played a 90 minute set I felt as energized as if I'd just had about eight hours of sleep! And afterwards there was a jam and I had the opportunity to play with Hamilton (we played together some on Woody's band) and some of the guys from the band and it was a ball.

In this era of bands like Maria's (which I do love!) it's nice to hear the more traditional style of bands like Basie's being kept alive and continuing to evolve.

Great soloists in the band- the first soloist on the first tune was 88-year-old Snooky Young, and he threw down the gauntlet. I mean, Snooky's a big part of jazz history- he's played with Jimmy Lunceford, Basie, Hamp, Thad & Mel and the Tonight Show band, and the cat can still roar! Also great were Clay Jenkins (trumpet), George Bohannon (trombone) Jeff Clayton (who plays some Cannonball-soaked alto) and especially Rickey Woodard on tenor who really tore it up.

John Clayton's writing is absolutely beautiful. The band can whisper or roar, and they had the audience in the palm of their hand from the git go. A great evening. Check them out if you get the chance!

(Our friend Duke City was there, too. Maybe he'll add something )

[Noj]

Here I thought he was just an NFL analyst for ESPN. Multi-talented!

Jokes aside, sounds cool Free. How 'bout Snooky Young still laying it down at 88? What a champion.

[Dan Gould]

I'm sure the band is even more amazing live, but here's an excellent CD with the band backing Milt Jackson:

[sheldonm]

I saw them this past October in LA.....bad ass band!!!

[DukeCity]

To everything Free For All said. It was a great show; some of the most fun I've had listening to a big band in a long time. The young guitar player (about 21), whose name I can't remember, was also great. Comping in the Freddie Green style and also taking some nice solos. Sal Cracchiolo deserves a mention for sliding over from the 2nd trumpet chair to play lead all night (very swingin'), and Chuck Findley was subbing on 2nd trumpet.

It's hard to explain how amazing and inspiring it was to see and hear Snooky. As we took our seats, the bandstand was all set up, and there was Snooky sitting by himself on stage (apparently those requiring extra time to board were let on stage early ), just hanging and looking like an 88 year old man. Then the band comes on stage, John Clayton counts off the first tune, and Snooky is up and screamin' like a man half his age!

Earlier in the day, I was hanging in the jazz festival break room when Clay Jenkins brought Snooky in. We all hung out for a while, and Snooky started talking about some of the guys he'd worked with over the years. There he is talking about playing in Basie's band with Jo Jones, Walter Page, and Freddie Green- the legendary All-American Rhythm Section! Talk about living jazz history!