An innovative voice in the contemporary jazz scene of the Pacific Northwest, pianist and composer Clay Giberson is part of a new generation that is redefining jazz. Emotionally compelling, the music grooves as much as it dazzles with harmony, lyricism and rhythmic intricacy.
Giberson’s performances convey a deep appreciation of structure and form but pay equal tribute to the pulse and sonic landscape that frame his musical ideas. Clay’s musical personality owes something to his childhood spent on a farm in Woodland, Washington. His mother, a classical piano teacher, infused his early life with music and he grew up both in the fields and at the piano. He studied jazz piano at the University of Miami and later established himself in New York where he also earned a Master’s degree in music technology. He has performed throughout Europe, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, the South Pacific, Caribbean and Japan. Clay currently resides in Portland, Oregon where he teaches, records, produces and performs.
Clay has released six recordings on the premier jazz label Origin Records, the latest being "Pastures" featuring saxophonist Donny McCaslin, bassist Drew Gress and drummer Matt Wilson. Also he has seven releases with his Portland-based groups Upper Left Trio and Go By Train. His collaboration with saxophonist John Nastos, Duo Chronicles, is a time-based project in which the musicians compose, record and disseminate a video performance every week for one year. Clay also works with jazz, pop, latin and funk artists such as Mel Brown, Dan Balmer, Bobby Torres, McKinley and Jessie Marquez.
“Clay Giberson, a Pacific Northwest pianist with a distinct voice, huge chops, and compositional intelligence of rare capability.”
- Audiophile Audition
“A sound of intelligence, lyricism, depth and accessibility…”
- The Oregonian