You would be hard-pressed to identify a musician as comfortable with classical music as he is with jazz, indie rock, folk and reggae. You would be equally hard-pressed to identify a musician who can rock with Levon Helm (formerly of The Band) on weekends, fly to Istanbul for a command performance, pack the house weekly in New York at nublu, make recording sessions, wax eloquent about music history and the fundamentals of musicianship, tour with friends in support of their fledgling bands, and still find the wherewithal to record a big band piece from scratch in the remaining spare time (you must listen to the phenomenal re-recording of “Tina,Too”) … unless you happen to know Clark Gayton.
Clark Gayton was born in Seattle, Washington, January 18th, 1963. After graduating high school in 1981, Gayton received a scholarship to attend the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, from which he graduated in 1984. Gayton then moved to Oakland briefly before moving to New York in 1987.
Since living in New York, Clark has worked with some of the finest jazz musicians in the world, such as Charles Tolliver, Lionel Hampton, McCoy Tyner, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, Ted Nash and Odeon, Ben Allison and Medicine Wheel, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra Nancy Wilson, and Ray Charles. Clark recently toured with Bruce Springsteen as part of the Seeger Sessions band. Clark has recorded or performed with Prince, Rhianna, Brazilian Girls, Steel Pulse, Wyclef Jean, Queen Latifah, Quincy Jones, Sting, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Santana, Maxwell, The Skatalites, and Bad Brains, to name a few. In addition, he is a strong advocate for musicians’ rights and has been a panelist for discussions about the online and independent music industry.
RECENT INTERVIEW
Clark was interviewed recently by Danielle Bias for Earshot Jazz.
"If you are fond of reggae, ska, gospel, the b flat tuba and trombone, the explorations of Clark Gayton in these musics on these instruments will have you dancing and shouting hallelujah, his in-the-pocket rock-steady a smooth groove. Composer, arranger and keyboardist, Gayton also possesses a seductive blues palette authenticated by roots in the Mississippi riverboat tradition. That Mr. Gayton is a compelling jazz man goes without saying. Having first encountered him at nublu on NY's Lower East Side, I soon found myself looking forward to his then-weekly Tuesday nights. The band could always be counted on. Skankin'! Gayton's trombone is one of the mellowest since Lawrence Brown, supported by laid-back arrangements and solid composition. There is nothing amorphous about it - want to skank? Here it is.... Tradition seems to be at once Mr. Gayton's tool and his plaything: while the function of brass in the orchestra is to compel, Gayton's work on these instruments is subversive, delivering subtle lines of bebop wrapped carefully in a ska sandwich. Vocalist Dollarman rides these rhythms as easily as a mare. The brass,composition and arrangements are pop jewels. Gayton is indeed a man for all seasons and all persuasions when it comes to his music. Still, it's all about the skank. Listen if you will, to 'Just For You'. Gayton's organically metronomic tuba is a perfect foil for the others in the section. The blues guitar of Bill Sims must rank with the best." --John Farris
Clark Gayton & Neatherealm - "Don't Try To Question"
CD 1995 (Ritual, Ltd.)
Neatherealm- "JahMerican Jazz"
CD (Ritual, Ltd.)
Clark Gayton - "Walk the Water"
CD 1999 (Ritual, Ltd.)
Clark Gayton - "Sankofa!" CD 2003 (Ritual, Ltd.)
As Contributor to Compilation:
Gascd Various Artists - Glad I Found My Religion in Time from "Walk the Water" CD 2002
As Band Member or Studio Artist
Skah Shah "Min Kompa" LP 1989 (trombone, arranger)
Skah Shah "All Generation" 1991 (trombone, arranger)
Steel Pulse "Live in Paris" 1992 (trombone)
Skah Shah "ENSENM ENSENM" 1993 (trombone, arranger)
Queen Latifah "Black Reign" 1993 (trombone, arranger)
Skadanks "Give Thanks" 1994 (trombone)
Ed Jackson "Wake Up Call" 1994 (trombone, bass trombone)
Charles and Eddie "Chocolate Milk" 1995 (trombone, arrangements)
Tommy McCook "Cook with McCook" 1995 (trombone)
Soundtrack to the Movie "Kansas City" 1996 (trombone)
The Mingus Big Band "Que Viva Mingus" 1997 (trombone)
The Slackers "Red Light" 1997 (trombone)
John Fedchock "On the Edge" 1997 (trombone)
Dave Stryker "Blue to the Bone II" 1998 (trombone)
Prince "New Power Soul" 1998 (trombone)
Shawn Colvin Holiday Songs and Lullabies" 1998 (trombone, euphonium)
Dave Hilliard "Playtime" 1999 (trombone)
Bill Sims "Bill Sims" 1999 (trombone, tuba)
Dennis Brown- "Let Me Be the One" (trombone)
CD 2000
Cornell Campbell - "Big Things" (Trombone)
CD 2000
Peter Salett - "Heart of Mine" (Trombone)
CD 2000
Big Mountain "Things To Come" (trombone)
George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band - "Merryteria" (Trombone)
CD 2000
Monday Michiru - "4 Seasons" (Trombone, Tuba)
CD 2001
Sting - "All This Time [UK Bonus Tracks]" (Trombone) 2001
Sting - "All This Time" (Trombone) 2001
Maxwell - "Now" (Trombone) 2001
Barney McAll - "Release the Day" (Trombone) 2001
Monday Michiru - "Selections 1997-2000" (Trombone, Tuba) 2001
Jah Works - "Bassmentality" (Trombone) 2002
Dave Stryker - "Blue to the Bone III" (Trombone) 2002
Tom Jones - "Mr Jones" (Trombone) 2002
Bill Mobley and the Space Time Big Band - "New Light" (Trombone, Soloist) 2002
John Fedchock New York Big Band - "No Nonsense" (Trombone) 2002
Queen Latifah - "She's a Queen: A Collection of Hits" (Trombone, Horn Arrangements) 2002
Tom Browne - "Tom Browne Collection" (Trombone) 2002
Lucky Gaijin a Go-Go - "Happy 55" (Trombone) 2003
Dan Zanes & Friends "House Party" (Tuba) 2003
Julia Darling - "Julia Darling" (Trombone, Trombonium) 2003
Cannabis Cup Band "Live Joint" (Trombone) 2003
Mya - "Moodring" (Trombone) 2003
Sting - "Sacred Love" (Trombone) 2003
Barbershop 2: Back in Business Original Soundtrack (Trombone) 2004
Ben Allison & Medicine Wheel - "Buzz" (Trombone, Bass Trombone) 2004
Mocean Worker "Enter the Mowo!" (Trombone) 2004
David Pilgrim - "Island Soul" (Trombone) 2004
Brazilian Girls - "Lazy Lover [EP]" (Composer, Trombone, Vocals (bckgr)) 2004
Nasio - "Living in the Positive [Bonus Tracks]" (Trombone) 2004
Brazilian Girls - "Brazilian Girls" (Composer, Trombone, Vocals (bckgr)) 2005
Gordon Chambers "Introducing Gordon Chambers" (trombone)
Ted Nash - "Espada de la Noche" (Trombone, Tuba, Horn (Baritone)) 2005
JJ Sansaverino - "Sunshine After Midnight" (Trombone) 2005
Elvis Costello - "North" (trombone) 2005
Various Artists - "Ultra Chilled, Vol. 5"(Trombone, Tuba) 2005
Kerry Linder - "Sail Away With Me" (Trombone) 2005
Steven Bernstein - MTO Vol. 1 (Trombone) 2006
Richard Bona "Tiki" (trombone) 2006 (trombone)
Joss Stone "It's a Man's World, Live" (Trombone) 2006
Rihanna - "A Girl Like Me" (Trombone) 2006
Nasio Fontane "Rise" (trombone" 2007
Duo LIve "The Color Of Money" (trombone) 2007
Bad Brains - "Build A Nation" (Trumpet) 2007
Charles Tolliver- "With Love" (Trombone) 2007
Bruce Springsteen - "Live in Dublin" (Trombone, vocals) 2007
The East Village Opera Company- "Olde School" (trombone)2008
Brazilian Girls- "New York City" (tuba) 2008
Lila Downs- "Shake Away" (trombone, valve trombone, tuba) 2008
Clark Gayton- "The Best Of" (trombone, tuba, euphonium, keyboards, producer, arranger, mixing engineer) 2008
Dispatch "Live Zimbabwe" 2008(trombone)
Steven Bernstein "We Are MTO" 2008 (trombone)
Levon Helm "Electric Dirt" (trombone, tuba) 2009
Swell Season "Strict Joy" (trombone, tuba) 2009 As Arranger or Composer for the years 2000 - 2005:
Glen Washington - "Can't Keep a Good Man Down" (Arranger)
CD 2001
I recently saw your lovely Mom. I asked about yah. I'm recovering from knee surgery but trying to get well and maybe get to NY. How are you doing? I hope all is well with you. I'm sure you're creating some new music at this moment. Stay Sweet. Always, Y:)
Hi there, Clark! How's it going? I was in the city today--didn't know you'd be playing tonight or I would've stuck around!! I've missed your sound! Hope you're enjoying the season (but watch out for those killer pigs!) ^ ^ '@'
Sunday, May 3rd, 8. 30 pm Rose's Live Music 345 Grand Street Brooklyn Seven piece band! $5 Suggested Donation
Wednesday, May 6th Independent Music Awards with Ekayani Chamberlain Wicked Willy's 149 Bleeker b/w Thompson and Laguardia Evening starts at 8 pm, We play at 10, $8 Power Trio!
