David Clayton Thomas
Press
So many singers who made their name in the 60s are now in their 60s and their voices sound like they're running low on power. Blood, Sweat & Tears frontman David Clayton-Thomas is not one of those singers.
During a wonderful concert with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra at Centrepointe Theatre on Friday, the 68-year-old classic-rock legend demonstrated his superior vocal ability on a selection of songs that spanned more than 40 years.
Whether he was booming around the bottom end or hitting on the high notes, Clayton-Thomas was in peak form, his voice carrying all the soul and grit of his early days.
In addition to the quality of his singing, Clayton-Thomas was a charismatic master of ceremonies who told stories and shared anecdotes with the rapt audience. He talked about hitchhiking from Toronto to New York City in the 1960s, for example, with nothing but a guitar and a song that would change his life.
The song, of course, was Spinning Wheel, a monster hit for Blood, Sweat & Tears. On stage Friday, it was a highlight of the first set, punchy and powerful, complete with a psychedelic guitar solo, superhuman blast of trumpet and the neat little flute break performed by orchestra musicians.
Clayton-Thomas' more recent tunes fit well with the tone of the evening, helping to give a greater sense of musical purpose. By including songs like Morning Blues, a personal song about being 65 and single, and the lovely title track from his recent solo project, The Evergreens, the concert transcended the level of a classic-rock nostalgia fest.
It was a window into the creative soul of one of the most influential voices of the baby-boomer generation. And what a treat to experience it in a comfortable venue with outstanding musicianship and terrific sound.
)
David Clayton-Thomas with The Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Massey Hall, Toronto, Feb.12&13, 2010
After 40 long years on the road as the frontman for Blood Sweat & Tears, David Clayton-Thomas and his all-star 10 piece Canadian big band joined the 66-piece Toronto Symphony Orchestra on the historic stage of Massey Hall for two incredible nights. This multi-Grammy winner and Music Hall of Famer dominated the stage and proved he still has the chops to woo an audience off its feet.
Clayton-Thomas performed such classics as “Spinning wheel,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,”and “And When I Die” as well as material from his new CD The Evergreens. He shared tales of his time living and performing in Toronto in the 60's, his early years in Greenwich Village and his present life in Toronto
The concert rocked from beginning to end, the veteran blues/jazz singer received stellar support from both the Orchestra and The Clayton-Thomas Band. The encore performance of “God Bless This Child” tore the house down; it was a memorable evening showcasing one of the finest pop voices of all times.
)
David Clayton Thomas
Red River Exhibition Park
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
June 17/09
David Clayton Thomas: Still Making Crowds “So Very Happy”
My dad was huge fan of swing jazz. So as a child, I was teethed on big band 78 rpm recordings of Glen Miller, the Dorsey Brothers, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and Stan Kenton until the Beatles came along obliterating everything and forever changing my world. But in 1969, Beatlemania did not stop me from taking notice of the most powerful jazz fusion sounds ever to explode onto the pop airwaves, and note especially, the gritty, powerhouse lead vocalist whose voice thundered overtop that popping brass and rhythm section. That unique voice belonged to a fellow Canadian, David Clayton Thomas.
Though the sky threatened rain, a good size crowd was on hand at Central Stage in the Exhibition grounds to welcome the group. They opened the night with a solid rendition of the Laura Nyro classic When I Die from the 1969 B,S&T self-titled album.
If anyone thought that David’s new backup group might not be up to BS&T standards, their fears were quickly allayed. Having retired from BS&T in 2004, he now tours with a slick 10 piece orchestra from Toronto billed under his own name.
Clayton Thomas looked professional in a dark suit and open collar dress shirt, and he quickly proved he still had the pipes. The songs lacked none of the trademark power and emotion.
He quickly followed with another track from the same album, his self-penned smash hit Spinning Wheel.
Slowing down the pace, he next performed the beautiful ballad You’re the One. He then picked things up again with the funky and raucous Gimme Dat Wine (one of my fav songs of the night) followed by 40,000 Headmen from BS&T 3.
David wrapped up with the classic hit ~ You Made Me So Very Happy. After a well deserved standing ovation, he returned and finished with his stirring reading of Billie Holiday’s God Bless the Child.
He made the crowd and this reviewer SO VERY HAPPY... Don’t wait another 30 years to bring your band back to Winnipeg David!
)
Stephanie Schomer
The Buffalo Evening News
July 1/08
LEWISTON — Canada Day enjoyed quite the celebration at Artpark Tuesday night, as Toronto’s David Clayton-Thomas, formerly of Blood, Sweat & Tears, took to the Lewiston stage once again.
The last time Clayton-Thomas appeared at Artpark, in 2004, a then-record-setting audience caused the gates to be closed as a security precaution for the first time in Artpark history.
Clayton-Thomas is obviously a different performer now than he was back in the Blood, Sweat & Tears glory days, simply in terms of age. However, despite his 66 years, his voice is still strong, powerful and true to the sound his fans have loved for so many decades.
He promised to take the crowd through 30 years of music before moving into “Spinning Wheel.” The still infectious and undeniable beat of the song solidified it as my favorite Blood, Sweat & Tears number, and Clayton-Thomas’ band showed off their outstanding skill.
Taking a break from the songs of years past, he introduced the song “Mornin’ Blues,” off his latest album, “The Evergreens.” The softer, smoother and bluesier sound of the track showed the maturity and growth Clayton-Thomas has experienced through his long-lasting career.
)
Magic Clayton-Thomas
(note from translator-It's very seldom that we see six stars on a review!!)
"Older stars have either to work hard getting good marks or they get high marks no matter which experience they might give their audience. Clayton-Thomas and his eight man band worked hard in the sold out Maritime Hall and had energy, humour, and a huge power in their performance.
News for many of us is the fact that David Clayton-Thomas is a natural and exceptional entertainer. He has his audience in the palm of his hand from his first entry, He makes us feel a part of the music as the most natural thing in the world"
National Press... Norway ******
)
David Clayton-Thomas In Concert: ***** Cosimo Parisi
A Musical Biography
This amazingly recorded live concert of David Clayton-Thomas at the Opera House in Toronto is a musical testimonial of grand coherence and musicianship.
His stunning voice is as convincing as ever.... The concert is fast-paced, its every breath well captured by the sound engineer, smooth and voidless: it's all perfect, the band, the audience, a Clayton-Thomas who fully honors his own fame. It matters little that this remarkable disc, instead of being released by a major, appears on Justin Time, a label devoted to jazz, which provides it with the added prestige it deserves.
Music Boom (Italy)
)
DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS
Mike Regensteif
In Concert: A Musical Biography
Justin Time
Recorded last October in Toronto, this live album finds David
Clayton-Thomas fronting an 11-piece band and looking back at his career
as a solo artist and, particularly, as the longtime lead singer of
Blood, Sweat & Tears. The veteran blues and jazz singer's band,
including Doug Riley on keyboards, bassist George Koller and a six-man
horn section led by Bruce Cassidy, is a tight unit and their
arrangements of BS&T hits like Spinning Wheel, (You've Made Me) So Very
Happy and Lucretia MacEvil are every bit as good, if not better, than
the originals. Clayton-Thomas's interpretive skills have deepened over
the years and he also offers very compelling versions of Don't Explain
and God Bless the Child from the Billie Holiday songbook.
****
Montreal Gazette
)
**** David Lewis
Aurora
Justin Time
Blessed with a great voice, this Canadian singer found fame in 1969 with the jazz-rock band, Blood Sweat &Tears. It's a treat to hear him return to his roots in this intimate jazz context. The band kick starts the soulful original, "Mercy Lord Above" into a consumate groove that shows the singer in his element. The mood changes dramatically when his anguished vibrato conveys the vulnerability of Billie Holiday's "Don't Explain" "Lazy Bones" is an inspired choice, a standard that suits his strengths.
Coda Magazine
)
The blues-drenched voice
made its way through arrangements that touched on New Orleans, 60's
rock fused with shades of classical and jazz, smoky ballads and funk
all delivered with wonderful, shifting dynamics and fine technical
skill.
Peter North - Edmonton Journal
)
"Clayton-Thomas was in
fine form...his gritty voice powerful and expressive. He opened with a
stunning 'God Bless the Child,' the Clayton-Thomas version of the
Billie Holiday song stands on its own...a classic."
Ellis Widner - Tulsa Tribune
)
"What made it fun was the way the singer attacked the music, the professionalism of Clayton-Thomas and the way he brought his songs to the audience. The big Canadian has his own style which is quite recognizable." Conrad Silvert - San Francisco Chronicle
As a singer, one of the best. Clayton-Thomas is very good. His voice is distinctive, earthy, bluesy, and he knows what to do with it, somehow controlling that roughness, using it to his best advantage at all times." Ray Recchi - Ft. Lauderdale News
"It's the singer's show! The voice is honey and gravel and he sure knows how to use it." Sam Hirsch - Critic at large ... Miami
)
Dressed in a leather
jacket, jeans and T-shirt, David Clayton-Thomas was in excellent shape.
On "Hi De Ho" the crowd performed as a gospel chorus led by the Rev.
Clayton-Thomas. David's own "Lucretia MacEvil" appealed to the road
house rockers, while the jazz purists were treated to the Lambert
Hendricks & Ross scat classic "Gimme That Wine".
Jim Santella - The Buffalo Evening News
The singer has had three decades of life experience since the early BS&T days on which to build the blues in his voice, in the place where blues, jazz and rock meet. Terry DeBoer -.The Grand Rapids Press
)
)
MYSPACE
FACEBOOK
WIKIPEDIA
YOUTUBE
LAST.FM
PANDORA