Name: Live at MCG
Brand: MCG Jazz/Manchester Craftsmen's Gld
SKU: 543590
Price: 60.41 USD
Availability: InStock

Performer Notes

Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra: Charles Owens (tenor saxophone); Eugene Young, Bijon Watson (trumpet); Ryan Porter (trombone); John Clayton, Christoph Luty (bass instrument); Randy Napoleon, Clay Jenkins, George Bohanon, Gilbert Castellanos, Jeff Clayton , Jeff Hamilton , Keith Fiddmont, Lee Callet, Sal Cracchiolo, Maurice Spears, Ira Nepus, Tamir Hendelman, Rickey Woodward.
Personnel: Randy Napoleon (guitar); Jeff Clayton (flute, alto flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Keith Fiddmont (clarinet, alto saxophone); Rickey Woodward (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Lee Callet (bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); Charles Owens II (tenor saxophone); Clay Jenkins, Gilbert Castellanos, Sal Cracchiolo (trumpet); George Bohanon, Ira Nepus (trombone); Maurice Spears (bass trombone); Tamir Hendelman (piano); Jeff Hamilton (drums).
Audio Mixers: Jay Ashby; Jay Dudt.
Editors: Jay Ashby; Jay Dudt.
Photographer: Robert Bowman.
Arrangers: John Clayton; Tamir Hendelman.
Voted the number two big band playing in the mid-'00s by a Jazz Times Reader's Poll, the popular, Grammy nominated, L.A.-based ensemble the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra celebrated 20 years of maintaining and expanding the big band jazz tradition in 2005. As the adage goes, the live setting is where the spirit of jazz really happens, and this recording, Live at MCG -- recorded over a four-day "residency" at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in Pittsburgh in May 2004 -- perfectly captures Clayton-Hamilton's spontaneous spirit. Though the core and namesakes of the unit are bassist/conductor John Clayton, saxophonist and flutist Jeff Clayton, and drummer Jeff Hamilton, the trio happily let numerous soloists color the mix. Their feisty, swinging opening take on Hoagy Carmichael's "Georgia," for instance features a frenetic tenor solo by Rickey Woodard, who also adds a spunky energy to the sly, more subtly rhythmic Horace Silver tune "Jody Grind." Up-grooving exercises like these two tracks and "Captain Bill" (as played by Monty Alexander, Ray Brown, and Herb Ellis), are balanced by more introspective numbers. "Nature Boy," featuring John Clayton's dramatic bass bowing, is given a semi-classical reading, while the graceful and moody "Lullaby of the Leaves" features guest solos by George Bohanon (trombone) and Tamir Hendelman (piano). Clayton-Hamilton save their most robust burst of traditional-meets-modern-day energy for "Silver Celebration," John Clayton's fiery tribute to piano great Horace Silver, which features an irrepressible rolling drum solo by Hamilton. This description only scratches the surface of the many colorful textures of a project that sums up all the fun and tradition the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra have been bringing to the world for two decades. ~ Jonathan Widran

Professional Reviews

Down Beat (p.72) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "Clayton shows distinct flashes of Thad Jones and Gil Evans, while also displaying a unique harmonic vocabulary with each arrangement that could only be his fingerprint."

JazzTimes (p.76) - "Conductor-bassist John Clayton did all the arrangements, and they're loose, biting, explosive and oh so swinging."

Album: Live at MCG
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Georgia
2)	Jody Grind
3)	Nature Boy
4)	Lullaby of the Leaves
5)	Silver Celebration
6)	Captain Bill
7)	Mood Indigo
8)	Evidence
9)	Like a Lover
10)	Eternal Triangle
11)	Squatty Roo

Album: Live at MCG
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Georgia
2)	Jody Grind
3)	Nature Boy
4)	Lullaby of the Leaves
5)	Silver Celebration
6)	Captain Bill
7)	Mood Indigo
8)	Evidence
9)	Like a Lover
10)	Eternal Triangle
11)	Squatty Roo