Bassist John Clayton to Perform with Wayne State Big Band April 3, 2009

John Clayton, Grammy winning jazz artist and 2009 Detroit International Jazz Festival artist-in-residence, will perform with Wayne State Big Band on Friday, April 3, 7:30 pm at The Music Box in the Max M. Fisher Music Center. The concert will feature Clayton's original compositions as well as his arrangements of works by Johnny Hodges, Sonny Stitt, Thelonious Monk and Hoagy Carmichael. Tickets are $20 at the DSO box office and $23.50 if ordered by phone (313) 576-5111 or online at detroitsymphony.com.

Seven-time Grammy nominee bassist/composer/conductor John Clayton won a Grammy in 2008 for his work on Queen Latifah's Travelin' Light. In 2009, Clayton was awarded a Joyce Award to support his composition of a full-scale concerto grosso for big band and jazz combo, as well as a teaching residency as part of his Detroit International Jazz Fest residency. Clayton's talents are consistently requested by the movers and shakers in the jazz industry, such as Quincy Jones and Tommy Lipuma. Clayton says, "When composing or arranging for the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, I am a disciple of Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, Oliver Nelson, Quincy Jones and Gil Evans, to name just a few." Regarding his bowing techniques, he cites the radically different techniques of Slam Stewart, Major Holley and Paul Chambers as influences. There is no doubt, however, that John has created a niche for himself wherein he stands alone. Visit: John Clayton's website.

The Wayne State Big Band performs a wide range of traditional and contemporary repertoire. Led by WSU Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies, Christopher Collins, the Big Band has performed to enthusiastic audiences at Detroit's Orchestra Hall with luminary Eddie Daniels and with jazz legends Joe Lovano and Jerry Bergonzi at Detroit's Max M. Fisher Music Center. The Big Band performs annually on the main stage of the Detroit International Jazz Festival with headlining artists including Diane Schuur, Jimmy Heath, and Kurt Elling.

In addition to performing the repertoire of guest artists, WSU Big Band is recognized for regularly programming award-winning jazz student compositions, arrangements written for artists-in-residence, and tributes to jazz masters and sacred jazz.

Known as "Detroit's Hometown University Big Band," Big Band is the premiere performance ensemble in Wayne State's Jazz Studies Program, the oldest university jazz program in the region. The Wayne State Department of Music and the Detroit International Jazz Festival (DJIF) collaborate on jazz education programs and partner with guest artists throughout the year. WSU Big Band and the Jazz Week All-Star Youth Ensemble perform each year at the DIJF. Christopher Collins serves on the DIJF Board of Directors.

Official Website: http://media.wayne.edu/2009/03/06/-10