Reunion! Bruce Forman, Jeff Hamilton, and John Clayton
Monday, April 17, 2023 | 7:00 pm
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Guitarist Bruce Forman, bassist John Clayton, and drummer Jeff Hamilton are bringing the swinging grace of their musical mentors back to life.
When guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Shelly Manne came together in 1956, they called their trio the Poll Winners—fitting, as each musician routinely topped DownBeat’s polls for their respective instrument. The five Poll Winners albums on the legendary jazz label Contemporary Records are classics that set the standard for every guitar trio that followed.
Performing on the Poll Winners’ original instruments, Forman, Clayton and Hamilton revisit the original trio’s musical legacy. These classic instruments, together with the modern players’ creative musical voices, create a beautiful homage to extraordinary artists who inspired jazz audiences around the world.