Gerald Clayton - Two-Shade [Album]
 

Gerald Clayton has been praised by the LA Times and the New York Times, he has collaborated with New York City's Jazz Gallery and England's BBC Orchestra and he has already received several awards. The piano skills of this young jazz musicians aren't worth a discussion - he is very good - but you begin to wonder if unjustified exaggeration hasn't played a small part in this worship?

'Two-Shade' is the solo debut of Gerald Clayton, only in his mid-twenties, but already making a huge impact in America and Britain. Accompanied by his pals Joe Sanders (bass) and Justin Brown (drums) Gerald recorded a dozen of his own compositions plus two covers, which are, according to the pianist himself, all part of his musical journey.

The songs which are all instrumentals with an obvious emphasis on piano mainly explore the possibilities on the border of jazz and classical music, which Gerald has both studied. Jazz tends to be very lively, passionate and natural and songs like 'Two Heads One Pillow', 'Scrimmage' and his amazingly well-done cover of Cole Porter's 'All of You' contain everything that makes the genre an experience you don't want to miss. It's unstructured but it does make sense. The musicians breathe passion and the songs just flow like it's not their will, but Mother Nature's. 'Love All Around', 'Casiotone Pothole' and 'Sunny Day Go' on the other hand lacks it all. There's no sense of direction, no real musical intensity and basically there's just nothing that really sticks. Somewhere in between is the remaining half of his album; downbeat songs, easy and steady going and mainly, more classical than jazzical.

Gerald Clayton trying to experiment and switch between jazz and classical music is something you either going to like or not, but it's his extreme seriousness and the overall lack of fun that makes this album as a whole not an easy listening session. 'Two-Shade' contains both tradition and innovation and these two may make it an adventurous album, it just suffers from a lack of direction, passion and most importantly fun.

Re: Gerald Clayton - Two-Shade [Album]
 

Great review as always Floris although based on the words of your review I think your rating might be a little high here. What do you think?

Re: Gerald Clayton - Two-Shade [Album]
 

Good stuff, great review about possibly something that would generally be something you might not listen to I know I would have struggled.

I dunno man. Floris' tastes are quite eclectic.

Re: Gerald Clayton - Two-Shade [Album]
 

Still it sounds like an odd thing just to pick up and listen to, you'd have to have prior knowledge I would imagine

Re: Gerald Clayton - Two-Shade [Album]
 

Concerning the ratings, you can't give them a zero for vocals and lyrics just because there are no vocals and lyrics, you would bring down the average rating just because it's an instrumental album...

And they're good musicians, no doubt about that, it's just that it tends to be a bit pretentious sometimes and way too serious. Here's what Clayton stated himself:

'Some musical ideas are beautiful for their purity and simplicity of expression; others enthrall through their complexity. Harmonies can pull us in, but dissonances can too. Rhythm als works in seemingly contradictory ways. It provides balance and imbalance, coveys feelings of steadiness as well as unease.'

That is exactly what you hear on the album; way too much thinking and too little real passion and expression.

Re: Gerald Clayton - Two-Shade [Album]
 

Actually because there's no vocals it should be 0 for vocals. I am glad you brought that up. I am gonna change it now.

Re: Gerald Clayton - Two-Shade [Album]
 

Why judging an instrumental album on its vocals and lyrics?
A n/a should've been better.

Re: Gerald Clayton - Two-Shade [Album]
 

Valid point actually if its Instrumental. Nice work Floris your reviews are tip top, and i like how you have quotes in your statements. Velly velly gooot. I like the idea of Classical Jazz.