Director Selects: Two Soraya favorites return May 14, a triumph against adversity

On May 14, we welcome back Diana Krall, one of the most celebrated artists of our time. Sharing the stage with Krall will be bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton. We’re overjoyed to welcome the familiar Soraya artists who are best known as the leaders of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Clayton and Hamilton have been regulars, both in Los Angeles and around the world, for four decades and are beloved everywhere they go.

On May 14, we also welcome to the stage Clayton’s new bass, recently acquired after he lost his home and all his instruments in the January fires. 

In Clayton’s words:

“Also consumed by the fire are all of my instruments (yes. I know. That alone is hard to fathom), a lifetime of printed music, scores, recordings, compositions.”

So much has been lost by so many, but the other side of the coin is the generosity Los Angeles has shown the musical community. Hamilton and Clayton are not only musical partners, they are lifetime friends. It was Hamilton who launched the funding campaign to help Clayton replace an irreplaceable instrument and start to rebuild his life. Read more about this in the articles linked below.

If you’d like to show the two musicians and fellow-Angelenos some love and support, there are still limited tickets available for the concert. 

Gratefully,

Buy Tickets for Diana Krall