February 26, 2025
Pianist and composer Gerald Clayton returns with the April 11 release of his third Blue Note album Ones & Twos featuring vibraphonist Joel Ross, flutist Elena Pinderhughes, trumpeter Marquis Hill, and drummer Kendrick Scott with post-production work by Kassa Overall. Produced by Clayton, the album is available to pre-order now on Blue Note Store exclusive color vinyl, black vinyl, CD, and digital download.
“Ones & Twos is an experiment—an idea inspired by the art of turntablism,” says Clayton. “I set out to create a record where the A side can be played simultaneously with the B side—a nod to that moment in the club when the DJ transitions from one song to the next, when you hear two separate pieces at the same time.”
The initial release of Ones & Twos will consist of the separated tracks, including the lead single “Angels Speak” which is out today. Later this year, Clayton will follow with a release of the combined overlayed tracks, revealing the end result of his experiment as a culmination of the project.
As Clayton formed his concept, he posed several questions: “Is it really possible for two separate melodies to coexist harmoniously? Does one inevitably become a counter melody to the other—a support of the more dominant melody? What does the experiment teach us about coexistence more broadly? I’m fascinated with this concept of coexistence in more than just the music. Not only the question: Can two songs coexist?… but can two people?… two cultures? One of the lessons we may gain from the music is that there will be moments of friction/tension, and there will be moments where two things fit together smoothly/peacefully.”
