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• Description
• Release details
• Tracklist

• Gerald Claytons Bells On Sand is an introspective and deeply lyrical jazz album that captures the pianists reflections on time, memory, and personal loss. Released in 2022 on Blue Note Records, the album unfolds like a quiet meditation, pairing delicately nuanced compositions with moments of searching improvisation. Its intimate tone is amplified by the presence of close collaborators, including Claytons father John Clayton on bass, longtime friend Justin Brown on drums, saxophonist Charles Lloyd, and Portuguese vocalist MARO. The album balances original pieces with interpretations of standards, each performed with a subtle yet emotive sensibility.

  The mood across Bells On Sand is one of graceful restraint. Tracks like That Roy pay tribute to the late Roy Hargrove, while the twin versions of My Ideal explore contrasting emotional terrain through tempo and phrasing. Peace Invocation, a contemplative duet with Charles Lloyd, provides one of the albums most moving moments. Overall, Clayton shapes a narrative of stillness and introspection, underscored by a warm, natural acoustic sound that invites close listening and rewards it deeply.

  Reviews

  Clayton’s finest recording to date… He crafts a cohesive narrative of memory and time, rendered with a cinematic subtlety. DownBeat

  An exquisitely beautiful album, meditative yet alive with quiet energy… one of the best post-pandemic jazz reflections yet. All About Jazz

  Each track is a soft revelation, full of human touch and creative sincerity. Clayton avoids excess and reaches emotional depth. JazzTimes

  A masterclass in subtle dynamics and intuitive interplay. The way he uses silence is almost orchestral. The Guardian

  Bells On Sand doesnt try to dazzle it invites, lingers, and ultimately transforms. A beautiful, haunting album. NPR Music

  Review

  AllMusic rating: AllMusic users: (60 votes) Read the AllMusic.com review

• Artist: Gerald Clayton Label: Blue Note Format: LP Units: 1 Country: Europe Genre: Jazz Style: Contemporary Jazz

• A1 Water’S Edge
  A2 Elegia
  A3 Damunt De Tu Noms Les Flors
  A4 My Ideal
  A5 That Roy
  A6 Rip
  B1 Just A Dream
  B2 My Ideal 2
  B3 Peace Invocation
  B4 There Is Music Where You’Re Going My Friends