David Clayton Thomas
Press
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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.
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David Clayton-Thomas
Clutching in its grasp the plaintive strains of the blues, the instrumental panache of jazz, the unbridled power of rock 'n' roll and a mass market appealing pop flare, Blood Sweat and Tears was perhaps the quintessential American band. Everyone knows David Clayton-Thomas as the brilliant songwriter whose earthy confidence and passionate, blues-soaked voice fronted the band that sold 30 million albums world-wide, took jazz-rock mainstream and blazed a trail for horn bands like Chicago, Tower of Power and Lighthouse who were forged in its likeness. Hailed by Billboard Magazine as possibly "the greatest blues oriented singer to come out of his generation" Clayton-Thomas continues to perform his classic signature songs as well as fresh and exciting new material, all contained on his new live CD from Justin Time Records.
David Clayton-Thomas In Concert: A Musical Biography.
An absolute must!
Press Release & Photo Click Here to Download
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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 ******
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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)
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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
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Aurora
David Lewis
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
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"No sooner does he walk on a stage than he dominates it...he becomes the focus, the power source."
Peter Goddard - Toronto Sun
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"In art, especially music, rarely does a performer emerge with a style so unique... remarkable."
L.A. Times
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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
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"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
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"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
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"He is of course so much more than a pop singer, he is a genuine musical original."
Wilder Penfield - Toronto Sun
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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
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"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
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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
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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
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