Program Notes - Affinity: A Ray Brown and Oscar Peterson Tribute

PROGRAM (Selections to be announced from the stage.)

RAY BROWN AND OSCAR PETERSON

Saturday, February 24 | 8PM

AFFINITY: A RAY BROWN AND OSCAR PETERSON TRIBUTE A Jazz @ The Jacobs Concert Gilbert Castellanos, Series Curator bass John Clayton percussion Jeff Hamilton piano Larry Fuller piano Tamir Hendelman bass Christoph Luty The Jazz @ The Jacobs Series is sponsored by Doctor Bob and Mao Shillman.

Performance at the Jacobs Music Center's Copley Symphony Hall

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PROGRAM NOTES | AFFINITY: A RAY BROWN AND OSCAR PETERSON TRIBUTE – FEBRUARY 24

ABOUT THE ARTISTS JOHN CLAYTON is a natural born multitasker. The multiple roles in which he excels – composer, arranger, conductor, producer, educator and, yes, extraordinary bassist – garner him a number of challenging assignments and commissions. With a Grammy® on his shelf and eight additional nominations, artists such as Diana Krall, Paul McCartney, Regina Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gladys Knight, Queen Latifah and Charles Aznavour vie for a spot on his crowded calendar.

He began his bass career in elementary school playing in strings class, junior orchestra, high school jazz band, orchestra and soul/R&B groups. In 1969, at the age of 16, he enrolled in bassist Ray Brown's jazz class at UCLA, beginning a close relationship that lasted more than three decades. After graduating from Indiana University's School of Music with a degree in bass performance in 1975, he toured with the Monty Alexander Trio (1975-77), the Count Basie Orchestra (1977-79) and settled in as principal bassist with the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in Amsterdam, Netherlands (1980-85). He was also a bass instructor at The Royal Conservatory, The Hague, Holland from 1980-83.

In 1985 he returned to California, co-founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra in 1986, rekindled The Clayton Brothers quintet and taught part-time bass at Cal State Long Beach, UCLA and USC. In 1988 he joined the faculty of the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, where he taught until 2009. Now, in addition to individual clinics, workshops and private students as his schedule permits, John also directs the educational components associated with the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Centrum Festival and Vail Jazz Party.

Career highlights include arranging the “Star Spangled Banner" for Whitney Houston's performance at Super Bowl XXV in 1991. (The recording of that performance, conducted by San Diego Symphony Conductor Laureate Jahja Ling, went platinum.) He has also been featured playing bass on Paul McCartney's CD Kisses On The Bottom, arranging and playing bass with Yo-Yo Ma and Friends on Songs of Joy and Peace and arranging, playing and conducting the 2009 CD Charles Aznavour With the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. John Clayton has performed on numerous recordings with Diana Krall, the Clayton Brothers, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Milt Jackson, Monty Alexander and many others. n

Series Sponsor Spotlight

DOCTOR BOB AND MAO SHILLMAN

THE SHILLMANS generously support all San Diego Symphony Orchestra jazz programming through their sponsorships of Jazz @ the Jacobs and Thursday Night Jazz.

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Originality is what versatile drummer JEFF HAMILTON brings to the groups he performs with and is one of the reasons why he is constantly in demand, whether he is recording or performing with his trio, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, the Clayton Brothers or co-leading the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Mr. Hamilton’s recording, It’s Hamilton Time (Lake Street Records), received enormous airplay while reaching #5 on the Gavin national jazz radio chart. His trio’s second release, Jeff Hamilton Trio-LIVE! (MONS) was nominated by critics for best jazz recording in Germany in 1997.

Mr. Hamilton has received rave reviews for his dynamic drumming. David Badham of Jazz Journal International stated in his review of the Clayton/ Hamilton Jazz Orchestra’s release, Heart and Soul (Capri): “This is one of the finest modern big band issues I’ve heard…This is undoubtedly due to Jeff Hamilton, a most driving and technically accomplished drummer.” Leonard Feather of the Los Angeles Times described Jeff and his work with Oscar Peterson as “the Los Angeles-based drummer whose intelligent backing and spirited solo work met Peterson’s customarily high standards…”

Born in Richmond, Indiana, Mr. Hamilton grew up listening to his parent’s big band records and at the age of eight began playing drums along with Oscar Peterson records. He attended Indiana University and later studied with John Avon Ohlen. In 1974, he got his first big break playing with the New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. He then joined Lionel Hampton’s Band until 1975 when he, along with bassist John Clayton, became members of the Monty Alexander Trio. He attained a childhood goal in 1977 when he joined Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd, with whom he made several recordings. In 1978, he was offered the position vacated by Shelly Manne in the L.A.4 with Ray Brown, Bud Shank and Laurindo Almeida.

From 1983 to 1987, Mr. Hamilton performed with Ella Fitzgerald, the Count Basie Orchestra, Rosemary Clooney and Monty Alexander. Mr. Hamilton began his association with the Ray Brown Trio in 1988 and left in March 1995 to concentrate on his own trio.

In addition to his many recordings with Ray Brown, Jeff Hamilton has been on nearly 200 recordings with artists such as Diana Krall, Milt Jackson, Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Streisand, Mel Torme, John Pizzarelli, Benny Carter, Lalo Schifrin, George Shearing and Dr. John.

He also appeared in the late Natalie Cole’s Great Performances PBS special, Unforgettable, and an Oscar Peterson documentary, Life in the Key of Oscar.

Jeff Hamilton is currently touring with his own Trio, the ClaytonHamilton Jazz Orchestra and Diana Krall. From 1999-2001, the Clayton/ Hamilton Jazz Orchestra was named the in-residence ensemble for the Hollywood Bowl Jazz series. The Los Angeles Jazz Society named Jeff and his musical partner, John Clayton, musicians of the year for 2006. As well as recording and performing throughout the world, Mr. Hamilton also teaches, arranges and composes. n

LARRY FULLER is one of the premier mainstream jazz pianists living today. Critics have aptly noted that Larry Fuller “swings like a beast!”

Raised in Toledo, Ohio, Fuller began his musical studies at age 11, immediately showing a talent for jazz. Floyd “Candy” Johnson, a veteran of the Count Basie and Duke Ellington Orchestras, took Fuller, at the extraordinary age of 13, under his wing, hiring him for regular paying gigs. In his early years Fuller became a regular on the Midwest jazz circuit, performing frequently in Detroit and Ann Arbor.

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PROGRAM NOTES | AFFINITY: A RAY BROWN AND OSCAR PETERSON TRIBUTE – FEBRUARY 24 From 1988-1993, Fuller worked with vocal great Ernestine Anderson, and moved to Seattle as her pianist and musical director. He performed and recorded with Anderson, including on her Grammy®-nominated CD, Now and Then.

In 1994 Fuller joined the trio of world-renowned drummer Jeff Hamilton, a 12-year associate of the Ray Brown Trio and member of the bands of Gene Harris and Oscar Peterson. Fuller performed with and recorded numerous Jeff Hamilton Trio classics, including Live!, It’s Hamilton Time, and Live at Steamers.

In 2000 Fuller joined the Ray Brown Trio. Ray’s place in jazz history is well known, from the days of Dizzy Gillespie’s big band to his long-standing association with Oscar Peterson. Larry had the honor of manning the keys as Brown’s last pianist.

From 2005-13 Fuller performed with guitar and vocal great John Pizzarelli, touring and recording as part of the John Pizzarelli Quartet.

Recordings include With a Song in My Heart, Double Exposure and Rockin’ In Rhythm. The International Review of Music recognized Larry’s contributions on Rockin’ In Rhythm: “pianist Larry Fuller’s brilliant work throughout – especially the buoyant stride solo – nearly steals the record.”

Since 2013 – harnessing his bandstand collaborations with many jazz giants – Fuller has led his own Trio, performing in prestigious venues and festivals internationally. Fuller presents a musical program rarely experienced live today, receiving consistent praise for his emotive, swinging style, monster technique and program versatility. The Vancouver Sun called Larry Fuller Trio’s appearance at TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival 2016 one of the two-week festival’s “top 10 highlights that took our breath away and made us gaze in wonder.”

In September of 2014, Larry Fuller’s chart-topping, self-titled album was released on Capri Records (Hassan Shakur on bass, Gregory Hutchinson on drums). The album received consistently exceptional praise. JazzTimes stated: “Fuller’s polished technique stems from two of his main influences, Oscar Peterson and Phineas Newborn, Jr., to which is added the blues acumen of a Gene Harris and the swinging drive of a Monty Alexander.”

In addition to the legends already noted, Fuller has appeared with Harry “Sweets” Edison, Stanley Turrentine, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Herb Ellis, Marlena Shaw, Kevin Mahogany, John Clayton, John Heard, Bennie Golson, Bucky Pizzarelli, Emily Remler, Jimmy Witherspoon, Houston Person, Eddie Harris, Anita O’Day, Steve Allen, Regina Carter, Nicholas Payton, John Legend and others.

Larry Fuller has performed at some of the most prestigious venues and festivals in the world, including Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops, Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy Center, Bern International Jazz Festival, TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Shanghai Center Theater, the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) Music Theater, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley Seattle, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Blue Note (Milan, Tokyo, and NYC), A-Train (Berlin), Widderbar (Zurich), Tbilisi Event Hall, Porgy & Bess (Vienna), Duc des Lombards (Paris) and so many more. n

Award-winning jazz pianist TAMIR HENDELMAN has performed with the Jeff Hamilton Trio, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Harry Allen, Teddy Edwards, Warren Vache, Houston Person, Jeff Clayton, Nick Brignola, Phil Upchurch, Rickey Woodard, John Clayton and Barbara Morrison. He also leads his own trio and his debut CD Playground features him in this trio setting.

Beginning his keyboard studies at age 6 in Tel Aviv, Mr. Hendelman moved to the U.S. at age 12 in 1984, winning Yamaha's national keyboard competition 2 years later at age 14. Concerts in Japan and the Kennedy

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Center followed. Mr. Hendelman then studied at the Tanglewood Institute in 1988 and received a Bachelor of Music Composition degree from Eastman School of Music in 1993. He then became the youngest musical director for Lovewell Institute, a national arts education non-profit organization.

Since returning to LA in 1996, Mr. Hendelman has been in steady demand as pianist and arranger, touring the U.S., Europe and Asia, and receiving awards from ASCAP and the National Foundation For Advancement in the Arts. In 1999 Mr. Hendelman was a guest soloist with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra.

Mr. Hendelman joined the Jeff Hamilton Trio in 2000, contributing arrangements, recording and touring Japan, Europe and the U.S. In 2001 he became a member of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, with whom he premiered John Clayton's new orchestration of Oscar Peterson's Canadiana Suite in the Hollywood Bowl in 2001. In 2002 he also toured Europe with Tierney Sutton and the Bill Holman Big Band.

Mr. Hendelman musically directed Julia Migenes's Alter Ego and played/ arranged on Roberta Gambarini's Easy To Love.

With the CHJO Mr. Hendelman has recorded for John Pizzarelli, Gladys Knight and Diana Krall. He is the pianist/arranger on Jackie Ryan's "You and the Night and the Music" and Janis Mann's "A Perfect Time." He is also featured on the late Natalie Cole's Still Unforgettable and Barbara Streisand's upcoming recording.

Tamir Hendelman’s musical travels have taken him from Alaska to New York and from Thailand to Israel. In his own trio he explores standards, Brazilian music, blues and his Israeli roots. Mr. Hendelman’s debut CD Playground (2008) was released in Japan on the Swing Bros. label and was released in the U.S. in December 2008 on CDBaby.com. He is a Resonance Records artist. n

Bassist CHRISTOPH LUTY is known for his big, natural sound, melodic bass lines and solos, and articulate arco playing. He came to Los Angeles from Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1990 to pursue his dream of studying and playing with the greats. He studied bass with his mentor John Clayton, who has said, “Christoph’s playing exemplifies…swinging bass lines, lyrical solos and a great, natural sound that is huge and full.” Christoph also earned his Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California. His playing has received many accolades. All About Jazz noted that “bassist Christoph Luty has a fat sound and an unerring sense of melody.” With the Jeff Hamilton Trio, “Luty ‘sang’ with a rich sound recalling the sonorous lower register of jazz bass great Ray Brown,” as reviewed in The Capital-Journal. Reviewing Christoph’s CD It’s Good to be Seen, Jazz Player Magazine noted that “Christoph Luty’s arco bass playing ability is remarkable…exceptionally in tune with a centered tone.”

Christoph currently lives in the Los Angeles area, and maintains a busy concert schedule, appearing in concert halls, clubs and festivals throughout the United States, Japan and Europe. He is presently a member of the Jeff Hamilton Trio, which performs concerts, club dates and workshops nationally and internationally. As the longtime bassist of the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra he has collaborated on concerts with artists like Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Diana Krall, Clark Terry, Dave Brubeck, James Moody and Shirley Horn, to name only a few. He has recorded with the likes of Milt Jackson, John Pizzarelli, Diana Krall and more; and has appeared nationally with artists such as Dena DeRose, Harry Allen, Warren Vache, Curtis Stigers, Bill Watrous, Anthony Wilson, Jeff Clayton, Bill Cunliffe, Howlett Smith and many others.

Christoph is also interested in educating young bassists – he teaches jazz bass at California State University Long Beach, assists John Clayton at the University of Southern California and teaches privately in his own studio. n S AN DIEG O SYM P H O N Y O RC H ES T RA 2 0 1 7-1 8 S EA S O N F E B R U A R Y 20 1 8