Gerald Clayton: Frost Jazz Orchestra
Oct 23, 2026
Starting: 7:30 PM
Pianist Gerald Clayton brings his lyrical, harmonically rich approach to contemporary jazz into dialogue with the Frost Jazz Orchestra at Gusman Concert Hall. Taking place Friday, October 23, the performance is part of Frost Music Live’s 2026-2027 season and pairs Clayton with the university’s large jazz ensemble under the direction of John Daversa.
A six-time Grammy-nominated pianist and composer, Clayton balances jazz tradition with an exploratory approach to improvisation and composition. His Blue Note debut, Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard, earned Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo, and his career has included an extended collaboration with saxophonist Charles Lloyd. The son of bassist and composer John Clayton, he has built a distinct musical identity while carrying forward a prominent jazz lineage.
With the Frost Jazz Orchestra, Clayton’s improvisational style meets the scale and color of a full jazz ensemble, creating a program built around interaction between soloist and orchestra. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.