Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Embracing his classical influences, pianist Gerald Clayton conjures a richly soulful and dreamlike atmosphere on his second Blue Note album, 2022's Bells on Sand. Even going as far back as his time in the 2000s with Roy Hargrove and then through his first few solo albums, Clayton has evinced a classical warmth in his playing. His measured style is marked by complex chordal harmonies, delicate arpeggiations, and a languid, poetic feeling that often evokes the work of Chick Corea. It's also a personal sound, informed by his musical roots with his father, esteemed bassist John Clayton, as well as his work with saxophonist Charles Lloyd -- both of whom appear here. He brings all of this to full flower on Bells on Sand, crafting songs that straddle the line between classical chamber music and flowing modal post-bop. The record is technically his first studio outing for the label following his 2020 concert album Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard. Where that release found him leading his adventurous quintet, here he offers spare duo and trio performances that are meant to reflect his past, present, and future as an artist. As such, he has brought together an intimate handful of collaborators, including his father, drummer Justin Brown, and Portuguese vocalist MARO. Also featured is Clayton's former boss and mentor, saxophonist Lloyd, with whom he has worked closely since 2013. There's a spiritual, imagistic quality to much of the album that has the feel of a '70s ECM recording. On the opening "Water's Edge," Clayton frames his father's mournful bowed bass lines with slow storm-cloud chords and the gathering rumble of Brown's drumming before trickling in a shimmering rainbow of organ. Equally languid moments follow, as in Clayton's take on Catalan composer Federico Mompou's "Damunt de tu Només les Flors," a sleepy, tango-esque lullaby sung with romantic sadness by MARO. Particularly rapturous is "Peace Invocation," a shimmering noir daydream in which Clayton's warm piano bakes like late-afternoon sun against Lloyd's dusky tenor sax shadow.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $17.49/month
John Clayton, Bass, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Clayton, Producer, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Justin Brown, Drums, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Gray, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rachel Jones, A&R - David Darlington, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Loucas, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Robaire, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Traci Fuller, A&R Admin
℗ 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc.
John Clayton, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Clayton, Producer, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Federico Mompou, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Gray, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rachel Jones, A&R - David Darlington, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Loucas, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Robaire, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Traci Fuller, A&R Admin - Jose Olive Janes, ComposerLyricist - Xavier Creixell Turull, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc.
John Clayton, Bass, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Clayton, Producer, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Justin Brown, Drums, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Federico Mompou, ComposerLyricist - MARO, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Gray, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rachel Jones, A&R - David Darlington, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Loucas, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Robaire, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Traci Fuller, A&R Admin - Jose Olive Janes, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Leo Robin, ComposerLyricist - Richard Whiting, ComposerLyricist - Newell Chase, ComposerLyricist - Gerald Clayton, Producer, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dominic Camardella, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin Gray, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rachel Jones, A&R - David Darlington, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Loucas, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Camardella, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Traci Fuller, A&R Admin
℗ 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gerald Clayton, Producer, Organ, Piano, Vibraphone, Rhodes , MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Justin Brown, Drums, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dominic Camardella, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin Gray, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rachel Jones, A&R - David Darlington, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Loucas, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Camardella, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Traci Fuller, A&R Admin
℗ 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gerald Clayton, Producer, Piano, Rhodes , MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Justin Brown, Drums, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dominic Camardella, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin Gray, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rachel Jones, A&R - David Darlington, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Loucas, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Camardella, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Traci Fuller, A&R Admin
℗ 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gerald Clayton, Producer, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - MARO, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Gray, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rachel Jones, A&R - David Darlington, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Loucas, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Robaire, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Traci Fuller, A&R Admin
℗ 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Leo Robin, ComposerLyricist - Richard Whiting, ComposerLyricist - Newell Chase, ComposerLyricist - Gerald Clayton, Producer, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dominic Camardella, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin Gray, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rachel Jones, A&R - David Darlington, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Loucas, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Camardella, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Traci Fuller, A&R Admin
℗ 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charles Lloyd, Saxophone, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Clayton, Producer, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dominic Camardella, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin Gray, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rachel Jones, A&R - David Darlington, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Loucas, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Camardella, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Traci Fuller, A&R Admin
℗ 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gerald Clayton, Producer, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dominic Camardella, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JEFF CLAYTON, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Gray, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rachel Jones, A&R - David Darlington, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Loucas, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Camardella, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Traci Fuller, A&R Admin
℗ 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Embracing his classical influences, pianist Gerald Clayton conjures a richly soulful and dreamlike atmosphere on his second Blue Note album, 2022's Bells on Sand. Even going as far back as his time in the 2000s with Roy Hargrove and then through his first few solo albums, Clayton has evinced a classical warmth in his playing. His measured style is marked by complex chordal harmonies, delicate arpeggiations, and a languid, poetic feeling that often evokes the work of Chick Corea. It's also a personal sound, informed by his musical roots with his father, esteemed bassist John Clayton, as well as his work with saxophonist Charles Lloyd -- both of whom appear here. He brings all of this to full flower on Bells on Sand, crafting songs that straddle the line between classical chamber music and flowing modal post-bop. The record is technically his first studio outing for the label following his 2020 concert album Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard. Where that release found him leading his adventurous quintet, here he offers spare duo and trio performances that are meant to reflect his past, present, and future as an artist. As such, he has brought together an intimate handful of collaborators, including his father, drummer Justin Brown, and Portuguese vocalist MARO. Also featured is Clayton's former boss and mentor, saxophonist Lloyd, with whom he has worked closely since 2013. There's a spiritual, imagistic quality to much of the album that has the feel of a '70s ECM recording. On the opening "Water's Edge," Clayton frames his father's mournful bowed bass lines with slow storm-cloud chords and the gathering rumble of Brown's drumming before trickling in a shimmering rainbow of organ. Equally languid moments follow, as in Clayton's take on Catalan composer Federico Mompou's "Damunt de tu Només les Flors," a sleepy, tango-esque lullaby sung with romantic sadness by MARO. Particularly rapturous is "Peace Invocation," a shimmering noir daydream in which Clayton's warm piano bakes like late-afternoon sun against Lloyd's dusky tenor sax shadow.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:43:01
- Main artists: Gerald Clayton
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Blue Note Records
- Genre: Jazz
© 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.
Playlists