One of Los Angeles’ treasured bassists, composers and bandleaders, John Clayton, returns with his eighth album, The Two-O Duo Project, an intimate and inventive recording that brings together three remarkable musicians: Clayton, acclaimed vocalist René Marie, and his son, celebrated pianist and composer Gerald Clayton.

Built around the idea of musical conversation, The Two-O Duo Project explores the possibilities of the duo format while celebrating the unique relationships between its performers. Across the album, John Clayton moves between duo collaborations with René Marie and Gerald Clayton, creating a collection that feels both deeply personal and musically adventurous. The project also features several trio performances, allowing the three musicians to come together and expand on the ideas developed throughout the recording.

René Marie brings her distinctive combination of soul, blues and expressive storytelling to the project. Her performances on the rich interpretation of “Blue Bayou” and the relaxed, blues-inflected “Beautiful” showcase her ability to move effortlessly between intimacy and strength. On “On The Day You Were Born,” Marie adds poetry and spoken expression, while the “Smile Medley” finds her swinging alongside John Clayton. She also brings a spiritual depth to “Come Sunday” and a striking, earthy intensity to “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”

Gerald Clayton brings a different kind of musical chemistry to the album. His playing on “Some Other Time” is fluid and understated, while his original composition “Forth” highlights his graceful, highly individual approach to the piano and overdubbed keyboards he plays. With “En La Orilla Del Mundo,” father and son explore the poignancy of this beautiful song, John, playing the melody with his bow and Gerald, employing the sensitive touch he learned from mentors like Kenny Barron. 

The recordings offer a rare opportunity to hear father and son in a setting that strips the music down to its essential elements: listening, interaction and trust.

For John Clayton, the album represents both a long-awaited reunion and the beginning of a new collaboration.

“My son, Gerald, and I haven’t done a duo recording in many years. I have never done a recording project with René Marie, though we’ve talked about it many times. So, I decided to have and eat my cake. This was my chance to record duos with two of my favorite people. Since we were all there, hanging out on the same day, why not do a few trio things as well? And so, we gave birth to The Two-O Duo Project.”

That spirit of spontaneity is at the heart of the album. Rather than approaching the sessions as a conventional leader-and-guest project, Clayton created an environment where each musician could bring their own voice and respond naturally to the others.

The result is an album shaped by family ties, friendship and decades of musical experience, moving comfortably between jazz standards, original compositions, vocal interpretations and intimate instrumental exchanges.

The Two-O Duo Project was recorded at Clear Lake Recording Studio in North Hollywood, California, and engineered and mixed by Joel Moss and Steve Generwick.

With his eighth album, John Clayton continues to demonstrate why he remains such an important voice in the jazz community. The Two-O Duo Project is not simply a collection of duets—it is a celebration of musical connection and the special chemistry that emerges when artists listen as deeply as they play.