Jazz Reviews : Clayton-Hamilton Band Ends Hotel Series

The eighth and final session Monday in the big band series at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel’s Blossom Room succeeded on every level: a record-breaking crowd, a superlative ensemble--the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra--and a couple of surprises, notably pianist Dudley Moore sitting in, and emcee Steve Allen playing one of his own songs with the band.

John Clayton conducts, writes all the arrangements, and occasionally picks up his bass to play a bowed solo; his “Li’l Darlin’ ” was a gem. His partners, brother Jeff Clayton on saxes and Jeff Hamilton on drums, are central figures in a group that reflects the band’s separate and collective values, whether in an entirely orchestrated chart like “Heart and Soul” or a vehicle for wild improvisation, such as “Blues Blowers’ Blues,” for which all five reed players were featured on tenor saxes.

In the Duke Ellington tradition, Clayton writes to fit the personalities of his soloists. “Sashay,” a tune by trumpeter Oscar Brashear, provided a perfect framework for the horn man, whose solo was a model of spontaneity, beautifully buttressed by Clayton’s scoring.

Similarly well suited was the arrangement of “Georgia,” showcasing Rickey Woodard on tenor. “Take the A Train,” with Jeff Clayton’s alto front and center, was amusingly slowed down; had it been any slower it would never have reached Columbus Circle.

Clayton’s rarely perceptible feet of clay surfaced in a boringly overarranged, drum-heavy version of Hoagy Carmichael’s “Little Old Lady.” More to the point was a “Body and Soul” designed to present Bill Green on soprano sax. The success of this series (which will be resumed a few months hence) would seem to prove that the big band form is as viable as ever, particularly when men of Clayton-Hamilton’s stature are involved.