The passing of Jay Clayton, pioneer jazz vocal master, mentor and mother, on December 31, 2023, will be mourned not just by family and friends but by thousands of her fellow professional colleagues, dedicated students and fans around the world. Clayton’s jazz icon status reflects her utterly unique innovations sourced from a passion for what she called “the magic” of free jazz improvisation. Her embrace of life and capacity for abundant warmth, permeated her presence.

As an innovative vocalist and loving, encouraging teacher, her work spanned genres from avant-garde new music to cutting edge approaches to jazz standards. She was a nurturer in her mentoring and a devoted mother with deep bonds to her own singer-daughter, and son who is innovative in business. She was a caring, empathetic, understanding friend; fun-loving and always giving of herself.

Jay was born Judith Colantone on October 28, 1941 in Youngstown, Ohio. She was educated at St. Louis Institute of Music and Miami University of Oxford, Ohio. In 1963 she moved to New York City where she became an exciting inventor of an authentically new sound pallet in her singing that she said emerged “from emotion.” Clayton expressed she was most influenced by jazz horns; unlike many vocalists she was non-imitative of any other singers. She became a key part of the free jazz loft scene, working with many prestigious artists, presenting concerts and leading workshops.

In 1968 she married Jazz drummer and bassist, Frank Clayton and had two children; her son, Dov Clayton, 1971 and her daughter, Dejha Colantuono in 1972. She recorded her first album as a leader, All Out, in 1980 followed by numerous critically acclaimed albums. Her support from the Sunnyside Label was key. And she was heard on multiple albums upward of 40 recordings throughout her career. During this time she composed and initiated her vocal ensemble, Voices which she continued to create with over decades, in new iterations. She also toured with composer Steve Reich, lending her unique sound and brilliant improvisatory skills to his scores.

In 1982 she moved her family to Seattle, Washington, where she joined the faculty of Cornish College. At Cornish she established and was the head of the vocal jazz program for 20 years. She became an international educator traveling all over Europe and Canada and published her book, Sing Your Story, which has inspired multitudes of young vocalists and teachers. As an international vocal artist, she has been honored with grants from National Education Association, Meet the Composer, and Chamber Music America.

With her children grown, she moved back to New York state where she split her time between NYC and New Paltz, in 2001 where she actively pursued her career in singing, composing, and teaching music in a succession of prestigious colleges, conducting workshops and performing in concerts and festivals around the world. Her collaborations were numerous; notably with Jerri Granelli, Jack Wilkins and fellow vocalist Sheila Jordan. Her workshops and concerts - from Vermont’s Putney Jazz to singer retreats in Italy and Greece- were life changing for generations of artists.

She gave a strong, beautiful concert which, surprisingly, would be her last just shortly before her cancer diagnosis in December 2022. During her illness she was taken care of by her daughter and tended by her son and a multitude of devoted friends in home hospice.

She is survived by her brother, William Colantone Jr. (s. Nancy Colantone), son, Dov Clayton (s. Susan Clayton), grandchildren, Nyah Savoy and Miles Jay Clayton, and her daughter, Dejha Colantuono.

- Sandra Burlingame, Katie Bull and Dejha.

Jay will be remembered by all of us, musicians and family alike, as a beloved warm soul. 

Special Thanks: Katie Bull, Donna Trunzo, the team at Hudson Valley Hospice Brittany Gustaffson and Angie Birch), Nana Simopoulos, Caryn Heilman, Cathy Segal-Garcia , Brenda Buffalino, Peggy Stern, Roberta Brenza, Eugene Uman, Cressa Turner, Amber and Linda Robinson, J Granelli, Ayelet Rose Gottlieb, Andrea Wolper, Kimberly Ford, Kendra Shank, Tawny Madenwald, and Jessie Peck

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