Set 1: 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm | Set 2: 9:00 pm - 10:15 pm - Sold Separately

Bassist, Composer, Arranger and Producer, John Clayton, is a busy man. With a Grammy 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.

In 1985 John co-founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and rekindled The Clayton Brothers Quintet. In addition to individual clinics, workshops, and private students as schedule permits, John also directs the educational components associated with the Centrum Jazz Festival and Workshop, and Vail Jazz Workshop.

Career highlights include arranging the Star Spangled Banner for Whitney Houston's performance at Super Bowl 1990 (the recording went platinum), playing bass on Paul McCartney's CD “Kisses On The Bottom,” arranging and playing bass with Yo-Yo Ma and Friends on "Songs of Joy and Peace," and arranging, playing and conducting the CD "Charles Aznavour With the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra," and numerous recordings with the Clayton Brothers, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Milt Jackson, Monty Alexander, and many others.

Jeff Hamilton was born in Richmond, Indiana, and grew up listening to his parent’s big band records and at the age of eight began playing drums along with Oscar Peterson records. He attended Indiana University and later studied with John von Ohlen. Hamilton was influenced by Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Mel Lewis, “Philly” Joe Jones, and Shelly Manne. In 1974, he got his first big break playing with the New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. He then joined Lionel Hampton’s Band until 1975 when he, along with bassist John Clayton, became members of the Monty Alexander Trio.

He attained a childhood goal in 1977 when he joined Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd, with whom he made several recordings. In 1978, he was offered a position with the L.A.4 with Ray Brown, Bud Shank, and Laurindo Almeida. He recorded six records with the L.A.4, some of which featured his own arrangements and compositions. From 1983 to 1987, he performed with Ella Fitzgerald, the Count Basie Orchestra, Rosemary Clooney, and Monty Alexander. Hamilton began his association with the Ray Brown Trio in 1988 and left in March 1995 to concentrate on his own trio. From 1990-1995, he was also a member of the Oscar Peterson Quartet w/Herb Ellis and Ray Brown. Jeff released four trio CDs, It’s Hamilton Time (Lake Street Records), Jeff Hamilton Trio – LIVE! (MONS), Hands On (MONS) and Hamilton House – Live at Steamers (MONS), all to great accolades. His current trio of Tamir Hendelman and Christoph Luty has released The Best Things Happen and Studio 4 (Azica); Symbiosis, Red Sparkle and Through The Years (Capri). The Los Angeles Jazz Society named Hamilton and his musical partner, John Clayton, musicians of the year for 2006. Hamilton has toured with his own Trio, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, and Diana Krall.

Pianist Steve Schmidt was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He took two years of basic piano lessons in grade school but spent more time playing baseball and basketball. It was an attraction to the guitar - to blues and blues-oriented rock bands - that really drew Steve into the pursuit of music. Throughout high school, he spent much of his free time playing guitar along with records and jamming with others around the city. Blues led to jazz, and he switched to piano the summer after high school to teach himself the chords and melodies of jazz.

Soon after, Steve began playing in various pop, fusion, and jazz bands. In 1979 he toured with Columbia recording artist and guitarist Wilbert Longmire. Later that year he became the house pianist at The Blue Wisp Jazz Club, the city’s leading jazz venue, where he booked soloists who played with The Steve Schmidt Trio each weekend for 13 years. Some of the artists Steve has played with include Eddie Harris, Charlie Rouse, Joe Henderson, Herb Ellis, Tal Farlow, Joe Lovano, Mark Murphy, Johnny Coles, and Scott Hamilton. Also in that year, Steve became a founding member of the 16-piece Blue Wisp Big Band led by drummer John Von Ohlen.

$10 drink minimum charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum.

Important Notices:

• If you do not check-in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund to you.
• There are no refunds within three hours of the start of the performance.

Seats are sold by the table, or by individual stools. Please check the map below for details about the location of the tables. For larger parties, please call (513) 601-9897 and leave a message and we will do our best to accommodate a custom arrangement.