The Clayton–Hamilton Jazz Orchestra Explained

The Clayton–Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
Landscape:	yes
Background:	group_or_band
Origin:	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genre:	Jazz, big band
Years Active:	1985–present
Label:	Capri, Lake Street, Qwest, Fable/Lighyear, MCG, EMI, Blue Note
Current Members:	John Clayton Jeff Hamilton Jeff Clayton Oscar Brashear Bill Cunliffe Gerald Clayton George Bohanon Rickey Woodard Tamir Hendelman Kye Palmer Lee Callet Bijon Watson Clay Jenkins Charles Owens Bill Green Jim Hershman Gilbert Castellanos Ryan Porter Keith Fiddmont Ira Nepus Maurice Spears Sal Cracchiolo Christoph Luty
Past Members:	Bobby Bryant Thurman Green Snooky Young Randy Napoleon

The Clayton–Hamilton Jazz Orchestra is a big band led by Jeff Hamilton and brothers John Clayton and Jeff Clayton. The band was founded in Los Angeles in 1985.

Personnel

On the album The L. A. Treasures Project (Capri, 2014):

• John Clayton: arco bass
• Jeff Clayton: alto saxophone
• Jeff Hamilton: drums
• Bijon Watson: trumpet^[1]
• Gilbert Castellanos: trumpet
• James Ford: trumpet
• Brian Swartz: trumpet
• Jamie Hovorka: trumpet
• Ira Nepus: trombone
• George Bohanon: trombone
• Ryan Porter: trombone
• Maurice Spears: trombone
• Keith Fiddmont: alto saxophone
• Rickey Woodard: tenor saxophone
• Charles Owens: tenor saxophone
• Lee Callet: baritone saxophone
• Tamir Hendelman: piano
• Christopher Luty: bass
• Graham Dechter: electric guitar
• Ernie Andrews: vocals
• Barbara Morrison: vocals^[2]

Discography

• Groove Shop (Capri, 1990)
• Heart and Soul (Capri, 1991)
• Absolutely! (Lake Street, 1995)
• Explosive! (Qwest/Warner Bros., 1999)
• Shout Me Out! (Fable/Lightyear, 2000)
• Live at MCG (MCG, 2005)
• Christmas Songs (Diana Krall album, featuring the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra) (Verve, 2005)
• Dear Mr. Sinatra (John Pizzarelli album, featuring the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra) (Telarc, 2006) – recorded in 2005
• Call Me Irresponsible (Michael Bublé album, song: "The Best Is Yet to Come") (143 Records/WB, 2007)
• Charles Aznavour & The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (EMI, 2009)
• Sundays in New York (Trijntje Oosterhui album, featuring the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra) (Blue Note, 2011)
• The L. A. Treasures Project (Capri, 2014)^[3]
• Life Journey (Leon Russell album, songs: "Georgia On My Mind", "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)", and "New York State of Mind") (Universal, 2014)^[4]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2021-12-27 . Playin' Around With Playbook: Bijon Watson . 2022-05-25 . Playbook . en-US.
2. Web site: Blanco. Edward. Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra: The L.A. Treasures Project. All About Jazz. 2 January 2017. 3 April 2014.
3. Web site: Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra Album Discography AllMusic. AllMusic. 2 January 2017.
4. http://cheekymonkeysarnia.ca/leon-russell-life-journey/ http://cheekymonkeysarnia.ca, Life Journey, April 8, 2014