History

With its exciting arrangements and high quality playing, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra has become a favorite of jazz audiences. Bassist and composer John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton founded the orchestra in 1985, enlisting an all-star list of Los Angeles musicians that included Jeff Clayton, George Bohanon, and Bobby Bryant. The band quickly found success, earning a Grammy nomination for their debut album Groove Shop (1990). From these early days until now, the orchestra has played a mixture of jazz standards and original compositions, all characterized by John Clayton’s complex, dynamic arrangements. To date, the orchestra has recorded nine albums, two of which received Grammy nominations. Besides Groove Shop, standout albums include Explosive! (1999) featuring Milt Jackson, and Live at MCG (2005).