Look What Clay Jenkins Sent Us!
Clay Jenkins, the popular trumpeter and big-band leader at Tritone Jazz at Naz, doesn’t record all that often, but when he does, he pulls out all the stops.
In this series of videos, currently available only here and on YouTube, we’re treated to special isolation-booth insights into how an all-star band absolutely nails Clay’s arrangements of both standards and beautiful originals.
And what a band!
One trumpeter (Clay), one bassist (John Clayton), two guitarists (Gene Bertoncini and Larry Koonse), and two drummers (Jeff Hamilton and Joe LaBarbera), doing what true professionals do – always communicating, never competing -- under Clay’s calm, creative leadership.
Clay says these recordings may be released on CD someday, but you’ve got them right now.
The recording was done at Tritone Recording Studio (no relation) in Glendale, CA last year, but the videos were just released.
You might want to start with Clay’s original, “Hope Beat.” Look how happy this tune makes Jeff Hamilton!
Here’s another original, Clay’s “Tap Out,” also featuring two drummers, two guitarists and no bass.
Here’s Larry Koonse’s spare, beautiful ballad, “Light and Shadow,” featuring only trumpet and two guitars.
Check out the masterful trading of fours that goes on in the middle of John Clayton’s “Grizzly.”
On Bruno Martino’s “Estate,” the two guitarists can’t see each other, but you can actually feel how carefully they’re listening.
In grammar, a diphthong is all about the sound of two vowels moving from one to another in a single syllable. Check out how sounds flow melodically together in Clay’s “Diphthong Tango.”
Drummer Joe LaBarbera composed this beautiful, Latin-tinged piece, “A Day at a Time” -good advice for us all.
Here’s Clay’s interesting take on Monk’s “Gallop’s Gallop.” I love how it builds.
And one of Clay’s absolute favorites, Charlie Parker’s “Quasimodo.”
Thank you, Clay, for all the beauty you bring to the world in your playing, your composing, your teaching, and your wonderful personal vibe.