Pianist

66 when he formed this multi-generational band and led its 2018 self-titled Verve album Combo 66, John Scofield is reaching the age when many of his contemporaries start thinking about retirement. Such an idea is the furthest thing from Scofield’s mind.

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John Scofield Combo 73

SFJAZZ Center

Many young musicians dream of performing on the stage of the Elbphilharmonie Grand Hall. For some of them, this dream will become reality. Selected for the Elbphilharmonie Jazz Academy, talented young jazz musicians on their way to a professional career receive a week of coaching under the guidance of Donny McCaslin and other renowned musicians and instructors. The crowning finale is a joint concert that presents the results of the week – the exact programme remains a surprise until shortly before the concert.

Donny McCaslin presents Elbphilharmonie Jazz Academy

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

The world is in turmoil: political crises, social tensions and a music market in flux also challenge jazz – and the people who create it. Six prominent jazz musicians – the mentors of this year’s Jazz Academy, which brings together young musicians on their way to becoming professional – talk about life at the crossroads of art, livelihood and present times. How is the everyday life of musicians changing? What new opportunities are emerging – what are being lost? What role does jazz have in a time of uncertainty – artistic, social, commercial, perhaps even political? An evening about artistic realities in 2025 – personal, open and direct.

Jazz Now: Navigating a Changing World

Elbphilharmonie

Gustavo Dudamel, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, global superstar Christina Aguilera, and additional special guests come together for a free concert recognizing the bravery and selflessness on display during the Los Angeles wildfires.

We ❤️ La

Hollywood Bowl

Possessing an exquisite touch, astonishing technique, and a sound that somehow combines the dynamic finesse of Ahmad Jamal with the hurtling swing of Oscar Peterson, six-time GRAMMY nominee Gerald Clayton ranks among the very best pianists of his generation. He performs with his working quintet as part of Terence Blanchard’s UpSwing Series.

Gerald Clayton Quintet

Illustrious jazz pianist, composer, and 6-time GRAMMY nominee, Gerald Clayton, searches for honest expression in every note. From his acclaimed debut to his leadership at the Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour, Clayton's work reflects a commitment to artistic exploration. Rooted in the legacy of his father, bass player John Clayton, Gerald honors his musical ancestors while pushing boundaries. Clayton has performed and recorded side-by-side with distinctive artists like Diana Krall, Roy Hargrove, Dianne Reeves, Terence Blanchard, Ben Wendel, and saxophone legend Charles Lloyd.

Gerald Clayton - "White Cities," A Musical Tribute to Charles White

Logan Center

The BSO and Thomas Wilkins mark the 50th anniversary of Duke Ellington’s death with three of this American musical genius’ symphonically ambitious “Tone Parallels” — his personal take on the tone poem; Gerald Clayton is soloist in the optimistic New World A-Coming. Ellington’s three Sacred Concerts of 1965, 1968, and 1973, conceived as a parallel to traditional European church music, feature styles at the core of jazz, including gospel, the blues, and spirituals in a multi-dimensional, oratorio-like presentation.

Duke Ellington Anniversary Celebration

Boston Symphony Orchestra

The guitarist and composer’s third album for Blue Note Records
, Four, is a stunning 13-track meditation on loss, renewal, and friendships, proffering new interpretations of previously recorded Frisell originals as well as nine new tunes.

Bill Frisell ‘Four’

Cadogan Hall 

Monterey Jazz Festival brings together 20 of the most accomplished high school jazz musicians from across the country to form the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra (NGJO) directed by GRAMMY-nominated pianist and composer Gerald Clayton. Established in 1971, the NGJO traditionally gathers for one weekend in the summer to begin rehearsals in preparation for a domestic or international tour.

Next Generation Jazz Orchestra with the Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo: Jason Moran’s Ellington 125

Jimmy Lyons Stage

Welcome to Monterey Jazz Festival's latest series, The Listening Space, a web series presented by Next Generation Jazz Orchestra director Gerald Clayton. The Listening Space is a place for us to seek a deeper more active role in listening to music. To savor its intricacies, the how and the why, and the impact on music holistically. Join Gerald Clayton as he walks us through a practice that has guided him his whole journey through music. Join us to really listen to some of our favorite tunes.

The Listening Space with Gerald Clayton LIVE!

Monterey County Fairgrounds

Blue Note Records is an American jazz record label established in 1939.  The anniversary tour stars The Blue Note Quintet – a group brought together to honor the label’s rich history.  Featured artists include Gerald Clayton, Joel Ross, Immanuel Wilkins, Matt Brewer and drummer Kendrick Scott.

Blue Note Records 85th Anniversary Tour

Charline McCombs Empire Theatre

Founded in 1939, Blue Note Records is universally revered as one of the most important record labels in the history of music, with a catalog of albums considered by many to be the holy grail of jazz. This 85th anniversary concert features The Blue Note Quintet, led by six-time GRAMMY Award-nominee Gerald Clayton (piano), with Joel Ross (vibraphone), Immanuel Wilkins (saxophone), Kendrick Scott (drums), and Matt Brewer (bass), performing the work of iconic Blue Note Records artists such as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Thelonious Monk, along with songs from their current roster of phenomenal musicians.

Blue Note Records 85th Anniversary Celebration

Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space

The Blue Note Quintet, led by six-time Grammy-nominated pianist Gerald Clayton, honors Blue Note Records’ rich history and paves the way for the eclectic artists on the legendary label today. One of those legends, Ron Carter — the prolific, three-time Grammy Award winner and most recorded jazz bassist of all time — brings his Golden Striker Trio to Symphony Center for the first time.

The Blue Note Quintet / Ron Carter’s Golden Striker Trio

Symphony Center

Blue Note Records is celebrating their 85th Anniversary with a US Tour starring “The Blue Note Quintet” – A group brought together to honor the label’s rich history and pave the way for the eclectic artists of today’s roster. The Alluvion is incredibly honored and excited to present this shooting star of a show in our intimate venue. This will absolutely be a one-of-a kind Valentines evening in Traverse City with an all star lineup of living legends on the stage.

Alluvion Jazz Series: Blue Note Records 85th Anniversary Celebration Starring The Blue Note Quintet

Commongrounds

Blue Note Records is celebrating its 85th Anniversary with a US tour starring The Blue Note Quintet, a group brought together to honor the label’s rich history and pave the way for the eclectic artists of today’s roster. Six-time GRAMMY Award nominee Gerald Clayton leads the band as musical director and pianist. “Gerald Clayton is one of the most accomplished, distinctive and innovative pianists performing today” says Don Was, the label’s President since 2012. Rounding out the group is vibraphonist Joel Ross, saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, drummer Kendrick Scott, and bassist Matt Brewer.

The Blue Note 85th Anniversary Celebration Tour

Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center

Blue Note Records is celebrating their 85th Anniversary with a U.S. tour starring The Blue Note Quintet – a group brought together to honor the label’s rich history and showcase the label’s current roster of eclectic musicians.

Irvine Barclay Theatre

Blue Note Records is celebrating its 85th Anniversary with a tour starring The Blue Note Quintet – a group brought together to honor the label’s rich history and pave the way for the eclectic artists of today’s roster. Gerald Clayton leads the band as Musical Director and pianist. Rounding out the group are vibraphonist Joel Ross, saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, drummer Kendrick Scott, and bassist Matt Brewer.

Dakota

BLUE NOTE RECORDS 85TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Blue Note Records is celebrating their 85th Anniversary with a US Tour starring “The Blue Note Quintet” – A group brought together to honor the label’s rich history and pave the way for the eclectic artists of today’s roster. 6 Time Grammy Award nominee Gerald Clayton leads the band as Musical Director and Pianist; “Gerald Clayton is one of the most accomplished, distinctive and innovative pianists performing today” says Don Was, the label’s President since 2012. Rounding out the group are vibraphonist Joel Ross, Saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, Drummer Kendrick Scott, and Bassist Matt Brewer.

Majestic Theatre

Blue Note Records is celebrating their 85th Anniversary with a US Tour starring “The Blue Note Quintet” – A group brought together to honor the label’s rich history and pave the way for the eclectic artists of today’s roster. 6 Time Grammy Award nominee Gerald Clayton leads the band as Musical Director and Pianist; “Gerald Clayton is one of the most accomplished, distinctive and innovative pianists performing today” says Don Was, the label’s President since 2012. Rounding out the group are vibraphonist Joel Ross, Saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, Drummer Kendrick Scott, and Bassist Matt Brewer.

Fisher Theatre

Possessing an exquisite touch, astonishing technique, and a sound that somehow combines the dynamic finesse of Ahmad Jamal with the hurtling swing of Oscar Peterson, six-time GRAMMY nominee Gerald Clayton ranks among the very best pianists of his generation. He returns for an evening of solo piano and collaboration with guests including trumpet star Ambrose Akinmusire and the masterful young vibraphonist Joel Ross.

Gerald Clayton

NEA Jazz Master Charles Lloyd, celebrating his 85th year, has never sounded better. The depth of his sound reflects a lifetime of experience. A Memphis Music Hall of Fame inductee, and recipient of the prestigious Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French Minister of Culture, Lloyd has a legendary history in the music world.
His concerts and recordings are events of pristine beauty and elegance, full of intensely felt emotion and passion that touches deep inside the heart. This is not entertainment, but the powerful uncorrupted expression of beauty through music. When music vibrates, the soul vibrates and touches the spirit within.
Lloyd is joined by six-time GRAMMY®-nominated pianist Gerald Clayton, a supremely gifted improviser hailed as one of the finest pianists of his generation. Charles Lloyd and Gerald Clayton have performed together since 2013, sharing incredible chemistry.

Charles Lloyd & Gerald Clayton Duo

Paul Mahder Gallery

Tenor titan, bandleader, and composer Charles Lloyd has played with countless legends from Cannonball Adderley to Howlin’ Wolf. In a rare appearance to celebrate his 85th birthday, he visits The Soraya with two of his trios featuring very special guests guitarist Bill Frisell, pianist Gerald Clayton, and double bassist Larry Grenadier, among others.

Charles Lloyd 85th Birthday Celebration

Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts

This is his story, these are his songs.

The second most recorded Jazz musician of all time, Thelonious Monk’s eccentric charisma, unique improvisational style and percussive approach set the standard for – not just Jazz musicians, but – musical icons ever since.

Join Gilbert Castellanos, Gerald Clayton, Lewis Nash, Russell Malone, Rodney Whitaker and special guest Charles McPherson for an evening celebrating one of Jazz’s most influential characters.

Straight, No Chaser: The Music Of Thelonious Monk

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

In 1943, Duke Ellington premiered two works about the experience of Black Americans—one, Black, Brown, and Beige, traced their collective history and another, New World A-Comin’, imagined a hopeful future. Ellington wrote about the latter in his biography, “I visualized this new world as a place in the distant future, where there would be no war, no greed, no categorization, no non-believers, where love was unconditional, and no pronoun was good enough for God.”  Within the context of the orchestra, Ellington explored these themes, as well as his faith, in many forms, from sacred concerts to extended suites to tone poems. He brought the full range of his musical vocabulary to bear on his symphonic work, weaving spirituals, jazz, blues, and even West Indian dance music into his orchestrations. In two programs over four nights, Thomas Wilkins leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a weekend dedicated to the orchestral music of a great American composer.

Symphonic Ellington: New World A-Comin’ with Gerald Clayton

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Louis Langrée returns to lead Orchestra of St. Luke’s in a concert celebrating the music of iconic American composers. GRAMMY-nominated jazz pianist Gerald Clayton performs Duke Ellington’s works, alongside classic favorites by Charles Ives, Gershwin, and Bernstein.

Louis Langrée Conducts Gershwin, Ellington and Bernstein

Carnegie Hall

Possessing an exquisite touch, astonishing technique, and a sound that somehow combines the dynamic finesse of Ahmad Jamal with the hurtling swing of Oscar Peterson, six-time GRAMMY nominee Gerald Clayton ranks among the very best pianists of his generation.

Lesher Center for the Arts

Possessing an exquisite touch, astonishing technique, and a sound that somehow combines the dynamic finesse of Ahmad Jamal with the hurtling swing of Oscar Peterson, six-time GRAMMY nominee Gerald Clayton ranks among the very best pianists of his generation. His two nights are his first at SFJAZZ since the release of his 2025 Blue Note album Ones & Twos.

Pianist

Gerald Clayton

Events

Upcoming events

Mar 26, 2026

Louis Langrée Conducts Gershwin, Ellington and Bernstein · Orchestra of St. Luke's

Apr 18, 2026

Gerald Clayton · Lesher Center for the Arts

23 - 24 Apr, 2026

Gerald Clayton · San Francisco Jazz

Past events

6 - 8 Nov, 2025

John Scofield Combo 73 · San Francisco Jazz

Aug 24, 2025

Donny McCaslin presents Elbphilharmonie Jazz Academy · Elbphilharmonie

Future and recently performed repertoire

Piano in The Unanswered Question by Ives

Orchestra of St. Luke's

Piano in An American in Paris by Gershwin

Orchestra of St. Luke's

Piano in Night Creature by Ellington

Orchestra of St. Luke's

Piano in New World A-Comin’ by Ellington

Orchestra of St. Luke's

Piano in On the Waterfront by Bernstein

Orchestra of St. Luke's

About

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