Bond: The Paris Sessions

Gerald Clayton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 10, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Emarcy / Pgd
• ASIN: B004GHPCX8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,491 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. If I Were A Bell

2. Bond: The Cast

3. Bootleg Bruise

4. Major Hope

5. Bond: Fresh Squeeze

6. Snake Bite

7. Sun Glimpse

8. Which Persons?

9. 3D

10. Nobody Else But Me

11. All The Things You Are

12. Bond: The Release

13. Shout And Cry

14. Round Come Round

15. Hank

16. Bond: Burn

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide

Gerald Clayton has been one of the bright lights of his generation, playing with the Clayton Brothers (co-led by his father and uncle), accompanying instrumentalists (Roy Hargrove, Don Braden, and Ambrose Akinmusire), jazz vocalists (Roberta Gambarini, Diana Krall, and Melissa Morgan), jazz-pop singers (Michael Bublé and Reneé Olstead), in addition to leading his own band and composing. His second release as a leader is a trio session with bassist Joe Sanders and drummer Justin Brown, plus some solo piano tracks. His interpretations of standards are remarkably fresh, considering how often they have been recorded in a jazz setting. He sets up "If I Were a Bell" with a subtle vamp as he slowly works his way into it, delivering a witty performance well supported by his sidemen. Clayton eschews the famous introduction to "All the Things You Are" added by Dizzy Gillespie, preferring to delve directly into the song, with a tense, understated approach that simmers but never reaches the boiling point. His solo take of "Nobody Else But Me" is full of intricately interwoven lines while still swinging like mad. Where Clayton really stands apart from young musicians of his generation is as a composer. He shows a surprising maturity for his age, as his pieces display a wealth of stylistic influences yet retain memorable themes that hold one's interest as well. Highlights including his dramatic three-part suite, his Impressionist "Sun Glimpse," and the touching lyrical ballad "Hank."

Product Description

Bond: The Paris Sessions was recorded at Studio de Meudon in Paris and engineered by Grammyr-winner Joel Moss. 'I'm very excited to share this project with everyone, as it exhibits a new level of chemistry that has developed between the three of us. Since each of the compositions is dedicated to various personal bonds in my life, listening back conjures up specific memories and emotions for me. I hope the listener will enjoy the musical conversations taking place as much as I value the opportunity to bond with the trio.' says Gerald. Bond is more than a merging of musical styles- it is a fusion of young and old, combining time-honored melodies with hip rhythms... the new sound of jazz. Gerald's own trio provides him with the vehicle to explore and expand on his own vision of the music. At just 26, Clayton performs with the ease of a veteran Jazz musician and has worked with some of the top musicians in the field such as Roy Hargrove, Diana Krall, Hank Jones, Kenny Barron, Lewis Nash, Al Foster and The Clayton Brothers (which includes his father the bassist John Clayton and his uncle saxophonist Jeff Clayton). Showing he is one of the leaders of the new generation of young Jazz musicians, Clayton branched out on his own to form the Gerald Clayton Trio in 2008 featuring Justin Brown (drums) and Joe Sanders (bass). Proving he is a force to be reckoned with in the Jazz community, Clayton continues to challenge himself musically every day.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Gerald Clayton is great, June 30, 2011

By 

Reklaw, Vinyl Veteran (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bond: The Paris Sessions (Audio CD)

Gerald Clayton sounds great, by himself he gets 5 stars from me. I give the CD 3 stars mainly because drummer Justin Brown brings it down for me. I liked him on Carlo De Rosa's Brain Dance, and at least he was in the fold with the rest of them on that generally over-rated album, When the Heart Emerges Glistening, but Brown bugs me here. I'm not crazy about bassist Joe Sanders here either. In the notes Clayton talks about how they've come together, I say not yet. Both of these guys sound like they make Clayton play with them, rather than the other way around. It should be a shared experience, but the bass and drums should really support the piano, the leader. Sanders gets it better than Brown on this one, but there's too many times this sounds divided. Clayton plays so beautifully I would think it would be easy for the rhythm section to get right on board. To them I would recommend Billy Taylor With Earl May & Ed Thigpen, not to play the same thing or in the same style, but to strive for that unity. Sanders and Brown need to set aside their egos and get in the spirit, but they're still young. Clayton is young but doesn't need an excuse, he's the real deal.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, elegant, interesting jazz!, November 1, 2011

By 

nancyNM - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bond: The Paris Sessions (Audio CD)

The Gerald Clayton Trio has made a wonderful recording here. The music is completely engaging, original, and creative. Gerald Clayton's piano playing is superb! Beautiful, spiritual, tightly played. I also recommend their other recording, "Two Shade."

5.0 out of 5 stars Great trio music here ., September 11, 2011

By 

lingua fabio (ITALY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bond: The Paris Sessions (Audio CD)

A wonderful example of a young trio that works !! Gerald Clayton is surely the diamond here but also the rythm section works great , displaying great arrangements , specials and so on . An higly recomandable work , fresh and full of life .