""The thing that was so impressive to me about John is that he's a busy, in-demand star in the jazz world, and he was like, 'Anything I can do to help you, you've got it, I'm here,'" said Jason Holland, executive director of the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts."
""Peplowski was more than a curator; he was the heartbeat of the OCJP, known for his wit, his virtuosic swing, and his incredible ability to bring together the world's finest musicians," Holland said."
"Clayton studied with legendary bassist Ray Brown as a teenager and went on to tour with Monty Alexander and the Count Basie orchestra, as well as co-founding, arranging, and composing for the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra."
"In addition, he is a classical performer, serving five years as principal bassist in the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra from 1980-84."
John Clayton will serve as the interim Artistic Director for the 2026 Oregon Coast Jazz Party after the passing of Ken Peplowski. Peplowski, who died from multiple myeloma, was a beloved figure in the jazz community. Clayton, a renowned bassist and composer, expressed his commitment to honoring Peplowski's legacy. He has an extensive background in jazz and classical music, having worked with numerous prominent artists and served as artistic director for Jazz Port Townsend. The upcoming Jazz Party will pay tribute to Peplowski's contributions to the festival.
Read at Oregon ArtsWatch * Arts & Culture News
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