CD1
Hamp's Big Band
1. Flying Home
2. Hey-Ba-Ba-Re-Bop
3. Hamp’s Boogie Woogie
4. Kidney Stew
5. Hamp’s Mambo
6. Airmail Special
7. Big Brass
8. Red Top
9. Night Train
10. Elaine And Daffy
11. Cutter’s Corner
12. Le Chat Noir
Lionel Hampton - Vibes
Robert Plater, Edward Pazant - Alto saxes
Herman Green, Andrew McGhee - Tenor saxes
Lonnie Shaw - Baritone sax
Wade Marcus, Clarence Watson, Louis Blackburn - Trombones
Eddie Williams, Eddie Mullens, Arthur Hoyle, Dave Gonzalez, Donald Byrd, William Anderson - Trumpets
William Mackel - Guitar
Wade Legge - Piano
Lawrence Burgan - Bass
Wilbur Hogan, Charles Persip - Drums
Lionel Plays Vibes, Drums, Piano
13. Just One Of Those Things
14. Lazy Thoughts
15. The Man I Love
16. One Step From Heaven
17. Darn That Dream
18. Star Dust
19. Tracking Problem
20. Lullaby Of Birdland
21. Blues For Stephen
CD2
Lionel Plays Vibes, Drums, Piano
1. And The Angels Sing
2. Love Is Here To Stay
3. I Know That You Know
Lionel Hampton - Vibes, drums, piano, vocals
Bobby Plater - Flute, alto sax, tenor sax, clarinet
Oscar Dennard - Piano
Billy Mackel - Guitar
Julius Brown - Bass
Wilbert "G.T." Hogan - Drums
Lionel Hampton With The Just Jazz All Stars
4. Central Avenue Breakdown
5. That’s My Desire
6. Perdido
7. Blues
8. Hamp’s Boogie Woogie
9. Flying Home
Lionel Hampton - Vibes, piano, drums
Milt Buckner - Piano
Charlie Shavers - Trumpet
Willie Smith - Alto sax
Barney Kessel - Guitar
Slam Stewart - Bass
Jackie Mills, Lee Young - Drums
Just Jazz
10. Star Dust
11. The Man I Love
Lionel Hampton - Vibes (track 10)
Charlie Shavers - Trumpet
Willie Smith - Alto sax
Corky Corcoran - Tenor sax
Tommy Todd - Piano
Barney Kessel - Guitar
Slam Stewart - Bass
Lee Young - Drums (track 10)
Jackie Mills - Drums (track 11)
I am a devotee of Lionel Hampton: for his skill as a vibist, his enthusiasm for jazz, and his ability to swing in virtually any situation. This double
album of three-and-a-bit LPs provides solid evidence of all these talents.
Hamp's Big Band
was recorded in 1959 and is a typical example of Hampton's big band at that time. The music is loud, energetic, and almost crosses the line from jazz into
rhythm-and-blues. Big Brass is a good example of the style, with a vigorous drum opening followed by Hamp's vibes cooking up a storm at a fast
tempo and a trumpet solo with plenty of power. Such a track may be a crowd-pleaser but the ensembles are tight, the arrangements are clever and make the
most of the big band line-up. And the band included some talented soloists, such as trumpeter Donald Byrd and altoist, flautist and arranger Bobby Plater,
who was with Hamp from 1946 to 1964 (when he moved to Count Basie's band). The Hampton band was long-lived and nurtured the careers of many famous artists,
including Wes Montgomery, Betty Carter, Charles Mingus and Quincy Jones. Now can someone release the Live at the Apollo 1954 album, which I think
has never been reissued on CD?
Bobby Plater is also on the next LP, Lionel Plays Drums, Vibes, Piano, as part of a small group which also includes Hamp's long-time guitarist
Billy Mackel. This 1957 album was clearly designed to showcase Lionel's versatility on three different instruments, although he plays the vibes on most
tracks. But he had started as a drummer and also patented a style of playing the piano with two fingers as if it was a vibraphone, so he was adept on all
these instruments. Tracking Problem contains a very impressive drum solo, while Blues For Stephen demonstrates his piano style, with some
witty quotations. And The Angels Sing illustrates another of his talents: singing in a relaxed if not exactly precise manner. Bobby Plater's main
role here is to fill in gently behind Lionel, but his contributions tend to be distracting, hindering one's ability to concetntrate on Hampton. Yet Plater
contributes some excellent solos, especially on flute. The outstanding track here is Star Dust, which became a staple in Hamp's repertoire (there
is a longer version on the second CD). Hampton seemed to find the tune's chord sequence ideal for improvisation and for including many intriguing quotes.
It illustrates one of Lionel's many strengths: his ability to echo the chords in his solos and keep reminding you of the original tune.
Keeping the best for last, this double CD ends with extracts from two LPs recorded at Gene Norman's "Just Jazz" concert in Pasadena on 4 August 1947. This
was one of those magical occasions when an all-star line-up comes together to make unforgettable music. Central Avenue Breakdown has Hamp soloing
on piano (duetting with Milt Buckner) and then drums. Charlie Shavers supplies a hot solo. Perdido contains potent solos from Willie
Smith, Charlie Shavers and Hampton. Flying Home is Hamp's usual
extended closer, with a bowed-bass solo from Slam Stewart, a fluent solo by Willie Smith, Charlie Shavers reaching for the stratosphere, and Hampton
building the climax.
The last two tracks are half of another LP from the same concert. Star Dust lasts for nearly 15 minutes and includes superb solos from Charlie
Shavers, Corky Corcoran and Slam Stewart. But the icing on the cake is Hampton's definitive solo, which is endlessly inventive and constantly swinging. The Man I Love is fine but it doesn't include Hampton!
Tony Augarde
www.augardebooks.co.uk
CD Reviews
Avid AMSC 1093
