Electronic Press Kit
Cass Clayton Band Bio:
Cass Clayton Band is the culmination of a song-writing and composing collaboration between Cass and Taylor Scott that led them into the studio to explore new translations of their combined influences of funk, blues, jazz. gospel and rock. The. resulting album (released in June of 2018) is a thoughtful new-school soul record with countless inventive sounds and unexpected twists. Taylor’s virtuosic guitar playing and composing skills combined with Cass’s lyric writing, smoky 3-octave vocal range, and soulful vocal style have led to music that transcends the limitations of genre and grooves like nobody’s business. The powerful stories told through each song are at the center of their craft, and the music intricately pulls you in.
Cass was recently voted as one of the top three vocalists and top three slide guitar players in Colorado (CO Blues Society Members’ Choice Awards, 2017). She has been lead vocalist and slide player for multiple bands, and is currently front woman for CC and the Riders as well as Cass Clayton Band. Taylor is an international touring guitarist/singer/songwriter who has toured throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe with both the Taylor Scott Band and blues legend, Otis Taylor.
Cass Clayton Band Members:
CCB often features guest musicians. Regular lead guitar players include: Taylor Scott, Christian Mockett and Dann Burke. Cass Clayton plays slide guitar and is lead vocalist. Loren Phillips, one of Colorado’s premiere bass players, holds down the groove, sings background vocals and acts as music director for the band. John Stilwagen plays keys and Hammond organ. Drummers for the band include Max DeVincenzo, Steve Saviano, and Carl Holz, depending on the show. CCB likes to keep it fresh and change the music up regularly, both for listeners and for their own joy! For more information about CCB, click here.
New Album:
The new Cass Clayton Band album was released in June of 2018 is now available in the Store, on Itunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music, as well as other outlets.
What People Are Saying:
Blues Blast Magazine, August 2018 — Cass Clayton is a rising star in the Colorado area and is noted for her vocal and slide guitar work. Here she stays off the guitar and instead features collaborator Taylor Scott on guitar as they blend rock, blues, funk, jazz and gospel. The album tends toward rock and funk and features all original tunes. The stories told are interesting, mostly dark and delivered with lots of feeling.
Cass shows off her soulfulness with the opening tune, “Let’s Not Be Friends.” Blending blues, rock and perhaps a little gospel, the tune starts things off well. “Phase of the Moon” has a touch of country blended into the mix of blues rock. Clayton delivers another nice performance and the trumpet adds a beautiful component to the ballad’s mix. The percussion and Dann Burke’s lead guitar give us a little funkiness in “When It Comes to My Heart.” Another story told with smokiness and power, Clayton shows her stuff once again.
“That’s What They Say” has Clayton cutting a little looser, showing more of that range and power that she has vocally. This ones a mid tempo funky sort of cut in a minor key that takes you up and down at the same time. “Still Water” is a country/southern rock sort of cut. The Hammond Organ gives a haunting, church like feel and the accordion takes things very rustic and folksy as does Scott’s acoustic guitar. Steady and flowing, the song evokes the feel of calm, still waters.
Things liven up with “Least A Brother Can Do;” a rousing guitar intro and a more upbeat approach gets things moving and this carries through the cut, showing us a different side of the band. Trumpet and sax add sweetly to the mix. “Used To Be” has a more haunting feel as the band starts off funky and Clayton adds distortion to her vocals. There is a pumping beat and the whole thing is fuzzed out is and offbeat-edly cool. Up next is “Last Thoughts,” parting comments to an ex-lover. Clayton again emotes the darker side of the feelings in a relationship. A somber Casio keyboard solo punctuates the feeling. Clayton builds to a big ending and shows power and range as she lets go. “Brother Interlude” is offered next with a driving rhythm guitar beat and lead guitar; very funky and very modernistic in the instrumental approach! Clayton concludes with “Sometimes,” a beautiful and thoughtful ballad. The drums drive the track along with a little bit of forcefulness and purpose. The pianos play back and forth with the vocal lead and make things interesting. It’s an interesting and cool song.
Joining Clayton are Taylor Scott on guitars and co-writing most songs, Geoff Gray on most song writing, Larry Thompson and Brian Claxton on drums and percussion, Todd Smallie and Chris Harris on bass, Tom Amend and John Wirtz on various forms of keys, Matt Wilkolak on trumpet and Jeff Miguel on sax for a cut. The songs are all interesting, crafted and delivered well, and the band is tight and together. Clayton’s vocals are always spot on.
All the songs are dark and express heavy feelings. A little more upbeat stuff in the mix would have spiced things up a bit. But originality is there, musician ship is there and the vocals are nicely delivered.
Clayton and company have a bright future and delivers some really fine original music!
Community Projects:
Cass is one of the musicians on a project called “Woman Power” with some iconic musicians, including Gaynielle Neville, Dionne Warwick, Mavis Staples, Irma Thomas, Cyril Neville, Ruthie Foster and Joy Clark. “Woman Power” was conceived by Gaynielle and Cyril Neville as a way to help empower underprivileged women and support them in breaking out of the cycles of poverty and abuse. In this project led by producer, Joe Michaels, a team of highly experienced music industry professionals and performing artists will record “Woman Power,” a song written by Gaynielle, as a benefit to women in crisis. Sponsors are currently being sought to support this effort, so please reach out if you can help!
Rocky Mountain Music Relief – Cass and a few friends in music launched an organization in 2017 to raise money for hurricane relief and other natural disaster relief. A series of benefit concerts happened at the end of 2017, including a show at the Fox Theatre with Cyril and Gaynielle Neville! Cass is now on the board of directors of the relief organization, which will serve the Colorado musician community in the event of unforeseen hardships. For upcoming concerts and information, please visit our website at www.rockymountainmusicrelief.org.
Genre:
Rock, Soul, Blues, Funk, R&B
Download Music:
Radio, media and festival/venue managers may download MP3’s of our music through this Dropbox link. To listen without downloading, please visit the Music page of this site.
Video:
For more videos click here.
Promo Pics & Logo:
Photos also available in Dropbox.