Sax Education

Saxophonist Jeff Clayton spent most of Saturday at his small Los Angeles studio, teaching everyone from preteen beginners to college students to senior citizens.

“Teaching is my way of giving back,” says the 45-year-old Clayton.

He helps lead the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, the official jazz arm of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Clayton Brothers jazz quintet.

He shares duties with his bass-playing brother, John, and drummer Jeff Hamilton.Truth be told, Jeff Clayton’s passion is playing, and there’s really nothing he would rather do than get on stage and let loose. He will do just that tonight with his quartet at Rocco in Bel-Air. “I get a release from playing that you can’t believe,” said the warm-toned altoist who has played with Stevie Wonder and the Gene Harris Superband. “And while I talk about how serious jazz is, it’s entertainment too. The better I play, the more fun I get to have.”

Clayton, a native Angeleno who lives in Venice, will appear at Rocco with two veterans--bassist James Leary and drummer Ralph Penland--and a fine newcomer, pianist Danny Grissett. Clayton’s originals will be their main fare. “I’ve been writing for 20 years, and I feel it’s time to grab the torch,” he said. “So many of the greats who wrote the jazz repertoire, like Dizzy Gillespie and Milt Jackson, have died, and we need some new jazz standards.”

BE THERE

Jeff Clayton’s quartet plays tonight from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. at Rocco, 2930 Beverly Glen Circle, Bel-Air. No cover, no minimum. Call (310) 475-9807.

No Relation: Jane Getz has played with many jazz greats in her lengthy career, including Charles Mingus, Pharaoh Sanders and, yes, saxophonist Stan Getz. But as her new CD makes clear, there’s no relation between the two Getzes other than that both can swing like mad. Getz leads her A-1 trio with bassist Chris Colangelo and drummer Thomas White on Tuesday from 7 to 11 p.m. at Monteleone’s West, 19337 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana.

The setting provides the pianist with no less than musical freedom. “I get to implement what I’m hearing, go in the direction I’m pointing,” Getz said. “With good players like Chris and Thomas, it’s like I’m the explorer and they’re my fellow explorers, except that I’ve got the map.”

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Zan Stewart writes about jazz for the Valley Edition. He can be reached at [email protected].