Jay has gained worldwide attention as both performer and teacher....

Jay has gained worldwide attention as both performer and teacher. She has appeared at major venues including Lincoln Center, Sweet Basil, Town Hall, the Kennedy Center, Jazz Alley, and the North Sea and Montmartre Festivals. She has taught at Universitat fur Musik in Austria, Bud Shank Jazz Workshop, and at City College and the New School in New York City. She has co-taught with Sheila Jordan at the Vermont Jazz Workshop, Jazz in July in Mass., Banff Center in Canada and was on the jazz faculty of Cornish College of the Arts for 20 years.

Her book, Sing Your Story: a Practical Guide for Learning and Teaching the Art of Jazz Singing, was published by Advance Music in 2001.

Jay has performed and recorded throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe with leading jazz and new music artists including Muhal Richard Abrams, Steve Reich, Julian Priester, Stanley Cowell, Kirk Nurock, Gary Bartz, George Cables, Jane Ira Bloom, Jerry Granelli as well as with the a cappela group Vocal Summit; Urszula Dudziak, Bobby McFerrin, Jeanne Lee, Norma Winstone.

Her current projects, covering both standards and original music, integrate poetry and electronics into her music. Her projects reflect the diversity of her art and her live performances, which range from duo to sextet, are unique events that draw from all of these collaborations. Jay's artistic versatility, so highly regarded by fellow artists, is apparent in her discography.
 
Educational

Jay Clayton - "Sing Your Story"

A practical guide for learning and teaching the art of jazz singing. What new songs/material are you working on? Can you talk down arrangements easily and briefly? Do you vocalize every day? Do you have good promo material? When is your next performance?

This book received a rave review in Downbeat Magazine, Nov. 2000. It has been updated since that review. Now available in Japanese and, soon, Italian. Book and CD $30.00 plus S&H. International orders will receive a quote by e-mail for shipping and handling charges. I will wait for your reply before proceeding.

Reviews

“Clayton is an important singer…one who proposed dramatic changes in vocal styles and roles…her musicianship is impeccable.” Francis Davis – Downbeat

“As far as vocal innovation goes, Jay Clayton is precariously on the cutting edge.” Fred bouchard – Jazz Times

“More than 20 years after her debut recording All Out, Clayton is still the most adventurous singer in jazz, a specialist in wordless improvisation who’s also expert in distending and finding new meanings in the melodies and lyrics of classic popular songs.” - Francis Davis, The Village Voice, July 14, 2004

http://www.jayclayton.com/


Judy Niemack performing her original lyrics to a Curtis Fuller composition ("Sagittarius") live from Sweet Rhythm. Featuring Jay Clayton, vocals, Don Sickler, flugelhorn, Jeanfrancois Prins, guitar, David Finck, bass, and John Riley, drums. Directed by Victor Moore. Produced by Showset Productions