The MSU Jazz Studies program is proud to present the Jazz Spectacular Festival featuring guest bassist and composer John Clayton. The long-awaited live celebration of 40 years of Jazz Spectacular at MSU includes a three-day lineup of activities kicking off on Thursday, April 21, and concluding with the finale concert on Saturday, April 23. Click here to browse the events in this series.

This year’s celebration will brim with the energy and excitement of live performance after canceling the event in 2020 and presenting virtual performances in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, live and in-person, four MSU Jazz Octets start things off Thursday by blending the sounds of big band with small group performance featuring guest bassist John Clayton, led by MSU Jazz Studies faculty-artists Diego Rivera, Randy Napoleon, Michael Dease and Xavier Davis. Friday features the crowd favorite Swing Dance with MSU Jazz Orchestras, led by Director of Jazz Studies Rodney Whitaker with faculty-artist Anthony Stanco and graduate assistant Sam Corey, where the audience is invited to get up and move to toe-tapping repertoire. 

On Saturday, this jazz juggernaut concludes with a full day of performances by bands participating in the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Regional High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival. Bands perform the music of Duke Ellington and other big band composers before Jazz at Lincoln Center clinicians and jazz professionals. Judges and clinicians are Andrew Dahlke, Jim Gaisor, Sherry Maricle, Gayelynn McKinney and Pharez Whitted. The outstanding band of the day will open the evening’s finale concert that features an inspired lineup of MSU jazz artists, Jazz Orchestra I, jazz bassist and visiting artist John Clayton, and special guests.   

John Clayton’s multi-dimensional talents keep him in high demand as a bassist, composer, arranger, and producer. With a Grammy Award on his shelf and nine additional nominations, artists such as Diana Krall, Paul McCartney, Regina Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gladys Knight, Queen Latifah, and Charles Aznavour have had spots on his crowded calendar. Clayton co-founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra in 1985, and rekindled The Clayton Brothers Quintet. In addition to individual clinics, workshops, and private lessons, Clayton directs the educational components associated with the Centrum Jazz Festival and Workshop, and Vail Jazz Workshop.   

“Spring means so many things here in East Lansing, and for us at the College of Music, it means jazz,” said Whitaker. “We’re grateful for the support we’ve received from our community and generous donors who have made the Jazz Spectacular a signature event for more than 40 years now.” 

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Event Series

Jazz Octets with John Clayton
Thursday, April 21, 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Murray Hall

Swing Dance
Friday, April 22, 8:00 p.m., Murray Hall

Essentially Ellington Regional High School Jazz Band Competition 
featuring MSU Professors of Jazz and clinicians from Jazz at Lincoln Center
Saturday, April 23, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Murray Hall

Finale Concert with John Clayton
Saturday, April 23, 8:00 p.m., Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium
 

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Press Materials

View or download the press release (PDF)
Contact Michael Sundermann, 517-353-2043, sunderm7@msu.edu 

Photography and graphic downloads

Event graphic courtesy MSU College of Music

MSU Jazz Orchestra I performing in the Fairchild Theatre, conducted by Rodney Whitaker. Photo by Harley Seeley.

Jazz Bassist John Clayton. Photo courtesy JohnClaytonJazz.com.