California Jazz Foundation’s Annual Gala

The California Jazz Foundation has announced its 2016 Honoree, Grammy award winner John Clayton, master of the acoustic bass and ever-ready, largely unheralded philanthropist. John excels as a composer, arranger, conductor, producer, educator and musician, as well as co-leader, with Jeff Hamilton and Jeff Clayton, of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. John will be presented with the Nica award in April 2016 in Los Angeles. The “Nica” is awarded to those individuals who exemplify the legacy of the Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter, known as “Nica,” an iconic figure who forged a unique bond with the jazz community at a transformative time in American popular culture.

The Foundation recently completed nine years of service to the jazz community, assisting over 180 California jazz musicians with housing, food, utilities, transportation, medical referrals, dealing with governmental and other agencies, and virtually anything that’s needed. More than $125,000 has been granted for housing assistance alone.

The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra will be performing at the Annual Gala on Saturday, April 2 2016.