Jazz

Solo Piano Solos - originally released as "Earl Hines at Saralee's," this recording has an interesting history: The year1974 was a typically busy one for Hines with coast-to-coast engagements in major venues from Los Angeles to New York, as well as tours to Latin America, Europe, and Japan. It was also the year he played at the funeral service for his close friend Duke Ellington in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Early in the year Hines had agreed to record a solo session for the small, financially struggling Fairmont label in Los Angeles. Since the label could not afford studio space, the January 29th recording session was arranged by mutual friends at the Santa Monica home of concert pianist Saralee Halprin, who also graciously offered the use of two pianos: one a three-year-old Steinway, the other a 60-year-old Mason Hamlin. Earl chose the older, more sluggish one for it's warmer tone.

Unlike typical club date audiences, the small appreciative gathering at Saralee's remains almost reverentially quiet as Hines stretches out on 5 standards plus one original: his autobiographically tinged vocal on the ballad "So Can I." At age 69, he plays with all the excitement and innovation for which he was known over many decades. While the selections range from "Alice Blue Gown" written in 1919, to "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" (1931) and "Don't Take Your Love From Me" (1941), the music is timeless.

Vibraphonist Lionel Hampton as ever boasts a struck-bottle tone and watery vibrato, energy to spare, and timing few jazz musicians could equal. He used to bat around small bands like balloons, their performances caught on a string of quality jam-session records stretching back to the 1930s.

The albums below give a great overview over the work and life of Lionel Hampton:

The Lionel Hampton Story : The 92 recordings on this 4 CD set tell the story of bandleader, vibraphonist, pianist, drummer and all-around showman Lionel Hampton. The story of the oldest established orchestra in jazz history and of a career of monumental achievements. Includes 44 page booklet with rare photographs and track details.
Additional artists include Dizzy Gillespie, Illinois Jacquet, Arnett Cobb, Johnny Griffin, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Mingus and Benny Bailey. 2000 release. 4 standard jewel cases housed together in a deluxe slipcase.

In the 1954 version of the The Lionel Hampton Quintet, originally on two LPs, makes good with a slightly unlikely cast. Clarinet modernist Buddy DeFranco is swept back toward the piping, driving style of swing-era heroes like Hamp's old boss Benny Goodman, without sacrificing his own attractively full but not heavy tone. Buddy DeFranco gets plenty of space and soars to the occasion, reminding us what such sessions are good for.
As on other studio jams for producer Norman Granz, flashy pianist Oscar Peterson and drummer Buddy Rich are admirably self-effacing, laying down a firm but pliant groove in conjunction with bassist Ray Brown. Hamp's oddball pop-tune quotes help establish an air of good humor the band sustains even on "Paper Moon," which he missed. --Kevin Whitehead