JAZZ REVIEW : JOHN CLAYTON TRIO: NATURAL SOUND

Does anyone remember natural sound?

This is a rare and supposedly unpopular phenomenon that existed before the invention of microphones and amplifiers. There are those who are firmly convinced that it is extent; however, Friday and Saturday, when the John Clayton Trio appeared at the Loa in Santa Monica, natural sound came back in all its gentle, undistorted glory.

The Loa (where things are looking up now that the club has finally secured its beer and wine license), the room is intimate enough for the musicians to get along with virtually no artificial sound enhancement, if they so desire. John Clayton, the bassist, so desired; the guitarists John Collins and Al Viola, were minimally amplified but made no use of the house speakers; in effect, the overall sound was that of an acoustic trio.

Both Viola and Collins are veterans whose experience has included many years with Frank Sinatra and the late Nat King Cole respectively. Their fluent excursions on “Manhade Carnaval,” “Misty” and a blues revealed not only their prowess at soloing and at accompanying one another, but also a keen sense of interaction. Whether playing finger-style or with picks, in single note lines or chords, they were always completely at ease.

As for Clayton, the nominal leader and very articulate announcer, he is younger by decades than his two colleagues but totally compatible, a bassist of immaculate artistry whose bowed solo on “Nature Boy” was note perfect and deeply moving.

Bassist Ray Brown will return to the Loa on Friday, teamed with the trombonist Bill Watrous.