It almost seems to pass the Dutch jazz scene by that the Dutch pianist Gerald Clayton is busy making a glittering career in America. The son of bassist , born in Utrecht, grew up in Los Angeles and played with , and , among others . Now he makes his debut as a band leader for the Blue Note label. Many preceded him with a live album that was recorded in the New York jazz club Village Vanguard,
… which opened in 1935; from and to and . With a strong bond behind him, Clayton shows that his place in this famous jazz joint is more than deserved. Clayton is not an innovator, but plays with feeling and atmosphere, in addition to, for example, the more robust blowing saxophonist Walter Smith III. Those elements blend nicely on this solid bop album. (MR)more
