Jeff Clayton Memorial New Note Award
The Los Angeles Jazz society will be announcing our 2025 Jeff Clayton Memorial New Note Award recipient shortly.
Jeff Clayton Memorial New Note Award
New Note was created by the Los Angeles Jazz Society in 2013 to support and promote the talents of young emerging jazz composers by providing commissions for new works which will be premiered at local jazz venues. This project adds another component in the organization’s mission to help preserve the future of jazz by identifying and nurturing young jazz musicians of tomorrow. LAJS Board of Trustee Max Wrightson is the Committee Chair.
Founding members of the endowment already include James & Carole Barrall, Howard & Cathy Stone; Barbara Abell, Laurie Saffian & David Strauss, Patrisha Thompson, John Clayton, Lois Saffian and Flip Manne. Anyone wishing to join the founders and help raise the Award endowment, may contact Jim Barrall at jbarrall@gmail.com
In honor of our dear friend Jeff Clayton, the LA Jazz Society and a steering committee headed up by longtime supporter Jim Barrall, who made a generous donation to establish the endowment, officially renamed our New Note Commission in honor of Jeff Clayton which is now entitled the Jeff Clayton Memorial New Note Award – a commission to support and promote the talents of emerging jazz composers by providing commissions for new works. This annual award will receive instructions to compose a new work with Jeff Clayton and his work in mind.
JEFF CLAYTON performed and toured with a litany of music greats throughout his career including Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, Patti Labelle, and Madonna, as well as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, and Lena Horne. Jeff also played in the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Basie and later under the direction of Thad Jones, and was a member of the Phillip Morris Superband. He also toured with Gene Harris, Dianne Reeves, Joe Cocker, B.B. King and Ray Charles. In 1986, he and his brother, bassist John Clayton, and drummer Jeff Hamilton formed the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. His second long-standing group with John, The Clayton Brothers Quintet, went on to receive two GRAMMY nominations.
“Jeff was passionate about this music. His love, joy, perseverance and sense of humor attracted so many to him. He had his own vision through his compositions that invited others to see that same vision. He leaves an irreplaceable void,” reflected Hamilton. John Clayton shared: “I am sad but buoyed by Jeff’s spirit, by recalling six decades of growth together, by the music we shared, and the knowledge that he wants us to move on, embracing and celebrating life.”
A selection committee, including John Clayton – Jeff’s brother, reviews possible candidates for the commission and makes a decision based on a record of achievement and recognition as a composer and/or musician. Each candidate must be known as a “rising star” among young audiences and someone who has an appreciation for the history of jazz as well as an eye to the future, providing a unique and innovative approach to music. The candidate will be asked to create this new work with Jeff Clayton’s legacy in mind. Compositions must be completed and reviewed no later than one month prior to presentation.
The Jazz Society has been pleased to partner with the annual Angel City Jazz Festival in premiering the works of its young composers.
New Note History
Compositions are premiered as part of the annual Angel City Arts Festival
Swipe left or right to view the timeline
