Jazz / Big Band, Swing
Lionel Hampton - Piano, Vocals, Vibraphone, Arranger, Ensemble
Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra
Al Hayes - Trombone
Al Sears - Sax (Tenor)
Allen Durham - Trombone
Andrew Penn - Trombone
Arnett Cobb - Sax (Tenor)
Ben Kynard - Sax (Alto)
Billy Mackel - Guitar
Bobby Plater - Sax (Alto)
Booty Wood - Trombone
Britt Woodman - Trombone
Cat Anderson - Trumpet
Charles Harris Bass
Charles Mingus Bass
Charlie Fowlkes Sax (Baritone)
Chris Siebert Series Consultant
Dinah Washington Vocals
Duke Garrette Arranger
Earl Bostic Sax (Alto)
Eddie Barefield Sax (Tenor)
Eric Miller Guitar
Erick Labson Digital Editing, Remastering, Sequencing
Ernie Royal Trumpet
Evans Sax (Alto)
Fats Heard Drums
Frank Davenport Arranger
Fred Beckett Trombone
Fred Radcliffe Drums
Fred Simon Sax (Tenor)
George Dorsey Sax (Alto)
George Jenkins Drums
George Jones Drums
Harry Sloan Trombone
Herbie Fields Sax (Alto)
Hollis King Art Direction, Design
Hot Lips Page Trumpet
Illinois Jacquet Sax (Tenor)
Irving Ashby Guitar
Jack Kelson, Jr. Clarinet, Sax (Alto)
Jake "Vernon" Porter Tenor (Vocal)
James Robinson Trombone
Jim Macnie Liner Notes
Jimmy Nottingham Trumpet
Jimmy Wormick Trombone
Joe Comfort Bass
Joe Morris Trumpet
Joe Wilder Trumpet
John Sparrow Sax (Tenor)
Johnny Griffin Sax (Tenor)
Kenny Dorham Trumpet
Lammar Wright, Jr. Trumpet
Lavay Smith Series Consultant
Lee Young Drums
Leo Shepherd Arranger, Trumpet
Manny Klein Trumpet
Marshall Royal Sax (Alto), Clarinet
Milt Gabler Producer
Morris Lane Sax (Tenor)
Ray Perry Sax (Alto), Violin
Roy McCoy Trumpet
Snooky Young Trumpet
Sonny Burke Arranger
Sonny Craven Trombone
Stephen Campbell Illustrations
Steve Lasker Digital Transfers
Ted Sinclair Bass
Teddy Buckner Trumpet, Piano, Arranger
Vernon Alley Bass
Vernon King Bass
Walter Williams Trumpet
Wendell Culley Trumpet
Since Hampton's big band started in the late '20s and endured for decades beyond, this collection cannot be comprehensive. But in the mid-'30s to late '40s, they were in their prime and a force to be reckoned with. So this slice of history is a decent introduction for those not familiar with the drummer and vibists' mix of unflappable swing, layered charts and friendly jive. Of course you get two obligatory versions of "Flying Home," classics "Air Mail Special," "Blow Top Blues," and "Red Top," goof tunes like "Hey Ba-Ba-Re-Bop!," the ultimate heart stopper "Midnight Sun," and lesser known but potent jam numbers "Cobb's Idea" and "Hamp's Got a Duke." It's a good start toward learning about one of the more important musical and sociological icons of America. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide
Lionel Hampton
Active Decades: '20s, '30s, '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s
Born: Apr 20, 1909 in Louisville, KY
Died: Aug 31, 2002 in New York, NY
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Big Band, Classic Jazz, Mainstream Jazz, New York Blues, R&B, Swing
Lionel Hampton was the first jazz vibraphonist and was one of the jazz giants beginning in the mid-'30s. He has achieved the difficult feat of being musically open-minded (even recording "Giant Steps") without changing his basic swing style. Hamp started out as a drummer, playing with the Chicago Defender Newsboys' Band as a youth. His original idol was Jimmy Bertrand, a '20s drummer who occasionally played xylophone. Hampton played on the West Coast with such groups as Curtis Mosby's Blue Blowers, Reb Spikes, and Paul Howard's Quality Serenaders (with whom he made his recording debut in 1929) before joining Les Hite's band, which for a period accompanied Louis Armstrong. At a recording session in 1930, a vibraphone happened to be in the studio, and Armstrong asked Hampton (who had practiced on one previously) if he could play a little bit behind him and on "Memories of You" and "Shine"; Hamp became the first jazz improviser to record on vibes.
It would be another six years before he found fame. Lionel Hampton, after leaving Hite, had his own band in Los Angeles' Paradise Cafe, until one night in 1936 when Benny Goodman came into the club and discovered him. Soon, Hampton recorded with B.G., Teddy Wilson, and Gene Krupa as the Benny Goodman Quartet, and six weeks later he officially joined Goodman. An exciting soloist whose enthusiasm even caused B.G. to smile, Hampton became one of the stars of his organization, appearing in films with Goodman, at the famous 1938 Carnegie Hall concert, and nightly on the radio. In 1937, he started recording regularly as a leader for Victor with specially assembled all-star groups that formed a who's who of swing; all of these timeless performances (1937-1941) were reissued by Bluebird on a six-LP set, although in piecemeal fashion on CD.
Hampton stayed with Goodman until 1940, sometimes substituting on drums and taking vocals. In 1940, Lionel Hampton formed his first big band, and in 1942 had a huge hit with "Flying Home," featuring a classic Illinois Jacquet tenor spot (one of the first R&B solos). During the remainder of the decade, Hampton's extroverted orchestra was a big favorite, leaning toward R&B, showing the influence of bebop after 1944, and sometimes getting pretty exhibitionistic. Among his sidemen, in addition to Jacquet, were Arnett Cobb, Dinah Washington (who Hampton helped discover), Cat Anderson, Marshall Royal, Dexter Gordon, Milt Buckner, Earl Bostic, Snooky Young, Johnny Griffin, Joe Wilder, Benny Bailey, Charles Mingus, Fats Navarro, Al Gray, and even Wes Montgomery and Betty Carter. Hampton's popularity allowed him to continue leading big bands off and on into the mid-'90s, and the 1953 edition that visited Paris (with Clifford Brown, Art Farmer, Quincy Jones, Jimmy Cleveland, Gigi Gryce, George Wallington, and Annie Ross) would be difficult to top, although fights over money and the right of the sideman to record led to its breakup. Hampton appeared and recorded with many all-star groups in the 1950s including reunions with Benny Goodman, meetings with the Oscar Peterson Trio, Stan Getz, Buddy DeFranco, and as part of a trio with Art Tatum and Buddy Rich. He also was featured in The Benny Goodman Story (1956).
Since the 1950s, Lionel Hampton has mostly repeated past triumphs, always playing "Hamp's Boogie Woogie" (which features his very rapid two-finger piano playing), "Hey Ba-Ba-Re-Bop," and "Flying Home." However, his enthusiasm still causes excitement and he remains a household name. Hampton has recorded through the years for nearly every label, including two of his own (Glad Hamp and Who's Who). Despite strokes and the ravages of age, Lionel Hampton remained a vital force into the 1990s. In January 2001, a vibraphone he had played for 15 years was put into the National Museum of American History. On August 31, 2002, at age 94, Lionel Hampton suffered major heart failure and passed away.
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
