| Life Forum | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 2, 2013 | |||
| Recorded | October 1–3, 2012[1] | |||
| Studio | Sear Sound, New York City[1] | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 59:48 | |||
| Label | Concord Jazz | |||
| Producer | Ben Wendel[1][2] | |||
| Gerald Clayton chronology | ||||
| ||||
Life Forum is the third studio album by jazz pianist Gerald Clayton, released on the Concord Jazz label on April 2, 2013.[1][2][3][4]
Concept
[edit]Clayton stated, "This record is about gathering my favorite musicians and giving them the best platform to explore and openly express themselves. I take the same concepts and values that lead to creative expression as a credo to live by, hence Life Forum."[2]
Reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| PopMatters | 8/10[4] |
Matt Collar, writing for AllMusic, stated, "Although the album works as a showcase for Clayton's larger group aesthetic... it is still Clayton, with his deft, nuanced piano chops, extensive, motivic improvisation, and broad, evocative compositional skills who stays in the spotlight."[1]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Gerald Clayton except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Life Forum" (poem by Carl Hancock Rux) | 2:52 | |
| 2. | "Future Reflection" | 4:52 | |
| 3. | "Shadamanthem" | 6:37 | |
| 4. | "Sir Third" | 4:18 | |
| 5. | "Deep Dry Ocean" | 5:27 | |
| 6. | "Dusk Baby" | co-written by Sachal Vasandani | 5:39 |
| 7. | "Mao Nas Massa" | 4:47 | |
| 8. | "Prelude" | 0:59 | |
| 9. | "Some Always" | 5:37 | |
| 10. | "Like Water" | 5:16 | |
| 11. | "Unhidden" | 3:57 | |
| 12. | "When an Angel Sheds a Feather" | co-written by Vasandani | 5:31 |
| 13. | "Under Madhatter Medicinal Groupon (UMMG)" | UMMG by Billy Strayhorn | 3:56 |
| Total length: | 59:48 | ||
Personnel
[edit]- Gerald Clayton – piano, Rhodes piano, vocals (10)
- Joe Sanders – double bass (1–11; 13)
- Justin Brown – drums (1–11)
- Ambrose Akinmusire – trumpet (1–3, 8, 9)
- Logan Richardson – alto saxophone (1–10)
- Dayna Stephens – tenor saxophone (1–3, 6, 8, 9; 13)
- Gretchen Parlato – vocals (1, 2, 4, 8–10, 12)
- Sachal Vasandani – lyrics (12), vocals (1, 2, 6, 8–10, 12)
- Carl Hancock Rux – poem composition and recitation (1)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Collar, Matt. "Gerald Clayton – Life Forum: Review". AllMusic. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Life Forum by Gerald Clayton". Concord Jazz. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
- ^ Murph, John (July 14, 2024). "Gerald Clayton: Life Forum". JazzTimes. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
- ^ a b Faulkner, Brent (July 8, 2013). "Gerald Clayton: Life Forum". PopMatters. Retrieved November 19, 2025.