Pianist and composer Gerald Clayton is set to release Ones & Twos: Expanded Edition on May 30, 2025, via Blue Note Records. This digital release builds upon his third Blue Note album, Ones & Twos, and presents the culmination of a unique musical experiment inspired by the art of turntablism.
Clayton's concept involves creating a record where the A side can be played simultaneously with the B side, emulating the moment in a club when a DJ transitions between songs, allowing two separate pieces to coexist. This idea challenges traditional notions of musical structure and harmony. As Clayton explains, "Is it really possible for two separate melodies to coexist harmoniously? Does one inevitably become a counter melody to the other—a support of the more dominant melody? What does the experiment teach us about coexistence more broadly?"
The original Ones & Twos album, released on April 11, featured separated tracks with contributions from vibraphonist Joel Ross, flutist Elena Pinderhughes, trumpeter Marquis Hill, and drummer Kendrick Scott, with post-production by Kassa Overall. The Expanded Edition includes two bonus tracks and a second disc comprising the combined overlaid tracks, revealing the end result of Clayton's experiment.
Listeners can experience the concept through the 3-track single: "Glass Half Warm," "Glass Half Cool," and the combined "Glass Half Warm / Glass Half Cool." These tracks exemplify the project's exploration of harmony, tension, and the possibility of coexistence within music.
Ones & Twos: Expanded Edition invites audiences to reflect on broader themes of coexistence, not only in music but in human relationships and cultures. As Clayton notes, "One of the lessons we may gain from the music is that there will be moments of friction/tension, and there will be moments where two things fit together smoothly/peacefully."
The album will be available for digital download and streaming on May 30.