MCG JAZZ Congratulates John Clayton On His Grammy Nomination

Pittsburgh, PA - MCG Jazz is off to the GRAMMYs again, this time for John Clayton's Best Instrumental Arrangement of “Lullaby of the Leaves" from Live at MCG (MCG Jazz 1017) by The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. This live album was recorded at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (MCG) on Pittsburgh's North Side.

The recording was instantly successful: The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra's Live at MCG spent four weeks in the number 1 spot on the JazzWeek Chart, and multiple weeks in the number 1 spot on Sirius Radio's jazz chart. Both charts measure the amount of airplay jazz albums receive, nationally.

Nationwide, The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra's Live at MCG album has received critical acclaim: John Clayton's original arrangements are noted to be “loose, biting, explosive and oh so swinging," by JazzTimes magazine. The Philadelphia Daily News classifies the album as “classy, brassy big band." And, AllMusic.com praises the “feisty, swinging" album as a “project that sums up all the fun and tradition the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra have been bringing to the world for two decades."

This nomination marks MCG Jazz' fifth GRAMMY Award nomination. MCG Jazz won its first GRAMMY Award in 1996 for Best Large Ensemble Performance for Count Basie Orchestra with the New York Voices Live at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (MCG Jazz 1002) album. The most recent win came in February 2005 when R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) (MCG Jazz 1013) by Nancy Wilson that won the GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Other GRAMMY Awards and Nominations MCG Jazz has received include two projects by Paquito D'Rivera. Brazilian Dreams (MCG Jazz 1010) won Best Latin Jazz Album at the 4th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards in Miami, FL in September 2003. D'Rivera's first project with MCG Jazz was during his tenure as musical director of the United Nation Orchestra. The resulting recording, Paquito D'Rivera and the United Nation Orchestra, Live at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (MCG Jazz 1003), was nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album in 1997.

The 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on CBS from 8 - 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Marty Ashby, Executive Producer for MCG Jazz states, “John Clayton will clearly go down in jazz history as one of the all time greatest arrangers. MCG Jazz is honored to present his work." The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra's Live at MCG is available at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, via the web, www.mcgjazz.org or phone, (412) 322-1773 ext. 140.

All About Jazz Reviews Live at MCG.