Join us for an incomparable weekend of jazz! On the evenings of April 11th and 12th, GRAMMY-nominated UW-Eau Claire Jazz I will perform with two internationally-acclaimed guest artists. The 2025 Concert Series features John Clayton and Camille Thurman! Audiences will also get a chance to hear the winning ensembles from the Student Sessions that day. This is a concert you don't want to miss!
Meet our 2025 Concert series Artists
John Clayton
Bassist, composer, arranger, and producer John Clayton is a Grammy© winner with nine additional nominations, celebrated for his work with legends like Diana Krall, Paul McCartney, Regina Carter, and Yo-Yo Ma. A former principal bassist with the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, John co-founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra in 1986 and revived
The Clayton Brothers Quintet. His acclaimed arrangement of the “Star Spangled Banner” propelled Whitney Houston’s iconic 1990 Super Bowl performance to platinum status. In addition to his extensive discography, John is a passionate educator, leading programs at Centrum, the Port Townsend Jazz Festival, and the Vail Jazz Workshop. Guided by mentors like Ray Brown, John embodies a profound respect for music, remarking, “Just take care of the music, and it will take care of you.
Camille Thurman
Camille Thurman is a trailblazing saxophonist, vocalist, composer, and bandleader making waves in the jazz world. Known for her innovative blend of tradition and originality, she has earned honors like NAACP Image Award and Downbeat Critics Poll nominations, two ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards, and a Fulbright Scholars Cultural Ambassador Grant. With five acclaimed recordings, including her latest, Confluence: Vol 1, Thurman continues to push boundaries.
She made history as the first woman in 30 years to tour and record full-time with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (2018–2020) and has headlined globally at venues like the Kennedy Center. A dedicated mentor, Thurman founded "The Haven Hang" to support young women in music and currently teaches as Assistant Professor of Jazz Performance at McGill University.
