Charles Lloyd & Gerald Clayton

The Art of Duo

The duo is a staple in jazz history. Saxophonist Charles Lloyd and pianist Gerald Clayton are a compelling addition to the lineage—but there is an added attraction here since this is a meeting of two of like-minded players from different generations. 81-year-old Lloyd is one of the revered elders of the art of improvisation. From his celebrated quartet of the mid ’60s, which launched the careers of Keith Jarrett and Jack DeJohnette, to his latest band The Marvels, featuring Lucinda Williams and Bill Frisell, he has been a towering presence both in the studio and on stages all over the world. Hugely popular albums such as Forest Flower have assured Lloyd’s place in history. Clayton, now 35, has made a name for himself as one of the most forwardthinking pianists of the last decade, leading his own bands on acclaimed recordings such as Tributary Tales and Life Forum, while also performing sideman duties for the likes of Roy Hargrove, Dianne Reeves, and Terri Lynne Carrington. Clayton and Lloyd first collaborated in 2013, and since that time the duo has attracted attention for stellar performances in which two strong personalities have been able to create an enchanting synergy.

“Two hearts and minds flying together, and apart, as the currents of inspiration carry them forward in search of One,” Lloyd describes this duo experience. “Each breath and note is revealed in naked purity. Our exploration to find the notes is like extreme diving: we have to trust each other to go deeper and deeper before we come up to the surface for air.”

Clayton echoes Lloyd’s view of the importance of spontaneous interaction but also sees the need for empathy and a degree of measure, if not restraint. “My goal is to have my senses completely open in every musical scenario, regardless of the number of musicians I’m playing with,” he says. “A duo setting does demand a certain calmness, a trust, and a sense of self-security—in order to not give in to any anxious energy that might invite you to impulsively fill up space and silence.” Stylistically, the two men have covered a lot of ground in their respective careers. Anything from African to Middle Eastern to Balkan folk has featured in their work, alongside all kinds of African-American and American music. Songs from the sacred and the secular realm also remain touchstones for both artists. “You think about the blues, and to me it’s the very human need to express the pains, the sorrows, and also the joys of life,” Clayton said about his recent Piedmont Blues project. Lloyd sees these genres as part of a continuum with the wider world he seeks to reflect in music: “Wind, waves, sea, solitude, space, and beauty—these are part of our shared language. And in between the layers of these elements lies the imprint of blues and gospel.”

—Kevin Le Gendre