Gerald Clayton – "White Cities," A Musical Tribute to Charles White

Illustrious jazz pianist, composer, and 6-time GRAMMY nominee Gerald Clayton searches for honest expression in every note. From his acclaimed debut to his leadership at the Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour, Clayton's work reflects a commitment to artistic exploration. Rooted in the legacy of his father, bass player John Clayton, Gerald honors his musical ancestors while pushing boundaries. Clayton has performed and recorded side-by-side with distinctive artists like Diana Krall, Roy Hargrove, Dianne Reeves, Terence Blanchard, Ben Wendel, and saxophone legend Charles Lloyd. Through his original jazz masterwork, "White Cities," Clayton honors the legacy of American painter and muralist Charles White and draws attention to the racism and oppression Black Americans experience in major cities. This remarkable performance incorporates Charles White's mural, "5 Great American Negroes," with a unique melody for each figure, reflecting his own artistic journey and personal growth.

Read the program notes here.

Runtime: ~90 minutes, no intermission

Between Sound and Sight: Mapping the Sonic Imprint of Charles White’s Vision

Saturday, February 15th
11:00am–3:45pm
Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E 60th Street
FREE Event, RSVP Required
Click here for more information and to RSVP.

Join us on February 15th as we showcase the connection between music and visual art that permeates Charles White’s artistic vision and the compositions and performance of Gerald Clayton. 

White Cities is co-presented by UChicago Presents, the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, the South Side Community Art Center and the Hyde Park Jazz Festival. This project is supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art, the Logan Center Jazz Forever Fund, a gift of the Revada Foundation, and the Robert S. Guttman Family Charitable Fund. The symposium is part of Art Design Chicago, a citywide collaboration initiated by the Terra Foundation for American Art that highlights the city’s artistic heritage and creative communities. The White Cities Performance is presented with Chicago Jazz Magazine, DownBeat, Jazz Institute of Chicago, and WDCB 90.9 FM.