Gerald Clayton and the Melody of Silence

At his “Meet the Artist” session at FlynnSpace the other day, pianist/songwriter Allen Toussaint was asked by someone in the crowd how he balances sound and space. “Those who play space pull your attention right through there,” Toussaint said, especially if there’s such good stuff before the silence that the listeners hang on every note, or lack thereof. Not sure if Mr. Toussaint has ever heard Gerald Clayton, but I think he’d appreciate what the young man does. Clayton is a 25-year-old jazz wunderkind who’s already been nominated for a Grammy and no doubt will be selected for a passel of others. At his show tonight at FlynnSpace, the first thing that struck me was what a beautiful, melodic style he has on the piano. Then I started noticing the silences. He’d plunk down a staccato note or two, then let it hang, blast another staccato note or two, then let it hang again, but for a slightly different interval, just to keep people on their toes. There was nothing discordant about it, and certainly nothing show-offy about his playing. In the end, much like Allen Toussaint, he’s devoted only to the melody. He can pound it out with the best of them, but he has a more delicate ear and sensitive touch than just about anyone I’ve seen on the piano. Lovely. Strong, but lovely.