Lawrence B. Johnson
Blazing concerto premiere caps the festival
The big festival ended on a grand scale, with the premiere of bassist John Clayton's "concerto grosso" for the Clayton Brothers Quintet pitted against the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra.
The winner was the audience, which was treated to a dazzling display of technical finesse and sheer sonic brilliance from both the large ensemble and the small.
Clayton calls his new work, commissioned by the festival, "T.H.E. Family, Detroit." The initials stand for the three brothers of one of Detroit's most distinguished jazz families -- Thad, Hank and Elvin Jones. Thad and Elvin, both deceased, played trumpet and drums, respectively. Hank, 91, appeared with his trio at the festival on Friday night.
Clayton's tribute, running about 30 minutes, plays out in three continuous sections. The first is a fire-balling, brass-laden remembrance of Thad Jones. The slow, almost hymnal middle section honors Hank. And the lights-out finale recalls the supercharged drumming of Elvin Jones.
Indeed, near the work's end, Clayton Quintet drummer Obed Calvaire delivered a stormy, electrifying solo that turned into a duet with the Gwinnell band's drummer, Scott Kretzer. A hardy crowd that had endured the day's intermittent rain rewarded Clayton's grand concerto with a vocal standing ovation.
