Jazz pianist Gerald Clayton performs Oct. 3

Praised by the New York Times for a “huge, authoritative presence,” pianist Gerald Clayton and his band perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall at Bates. Admission is $15, available at batestickets.com.

The Olin Arts Center is located at 75 Russell St. For more information, please contact 207-786-6135 or olinarts@bates.edu.

In a concert review, Los Angeles Times critic Don Heckman wrote that “individually and collectively, (the Clayton trio’s) performance was at a stunningly high professional level — enhanced by the enthusiastic feeling of exhilaration in everything they played.”

With three albums as leader, several studio projects as a sideman and countless performances, pianist and composer Clayton has established himself as a leading figure in the emerging generation of artists fluent in the diverse styles present in today’s jazz.

“I have listened to lots of different musical styles as long as I can remember,” says Clayton. “I prefer to ignore the boxes, the genre distinctions. I focus on creating honest musical expressions and collaborating with people whose ideas resonate with my own.”

The trio’s other members are drummer Justin Brown and bassist Joe Sanders.

Born in the Netherlands in 1984, Clayton grew up in Los Angeles. Still in his 20s, Clayton has worked with top jazz musicians such as Roy Hargrove, Diana Krall, Hank Jones, Kenny Barron, Lewis Nash and Al Foster. From 2006-08, he toured extensively with various ensembles led by trumpeter Hargrove.

In addition to his trio, he performs with the Clayton Brothers Quintet, which features his father, bassist John Clayton, and his uncle Jeff Clayton, a saxophonist.

Clayton released his third album as leader, Life Forum (Concord) in 2013. Described by the pianist as possibly his “most ambitious album yet,” the 12-song set brings Clayton, Sanders and Brown together with saxophonists Logan Richardson and Dayna Stephens and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire. Vocalists Gretchen Parlato and Sachal Vasandani and poet Carl Hancock Rux complete the ensemble.

The trio previously released the Grammy-nominated Bond: The Paris Sessions (Decca/Emarcy Records, 2011) and, in 2009, Two Shade (Decca), Clayton’s debut as leader.