Perhaps the only thing better than having talented friends is having a personal love of their talents, and Jim Clayton is no exceptional to that rule. This enormously talented local jazz musician was recently in New Orleans with his lovely partner Tracey recording a solo jazz piano album at The Music Shed.
Jim was coincidentally performing a vibraphone gig on my birthday almost exactly a year ago, and I had requested the song “Emily” after which my dad named me. I was utterly delighted when he actually played it—even more surprised when I discovered that Tracey had recorded part of the song for me!
He sent me a message a couple of weeks ago, saying he’d been “digging that tune” since that gig and that he had recorded “Emily” on the album. Not long after, I finally got to hear it and now I can happily share it here.
I’m probably biased, but for what it’s worth, I think it’s a gorgeous interpretation. Listening to it transports me back to an era more fitting of my old timey soul, an era when it made sense to describe this beautiful love story unfolding right in front of you with nary a lyric to be heard, and the melody guided you blissfully through the night.
Thursday Night in New Orleans is now available for streaming and I can’t recommend it enough. Thank you for sharing your beautiful talent with the world, Jim. We need more of this.
