The Rifftides staff is up against non-Rifftides deadlines. Rather than abandon you, we offer links to Lionel Hampton videos. You can use them in lieu of your morning coffee to perk you up, or benzedrine to keep you awake. The piece is “Flying Home,” which was to Hampton what home runs are to Barry Bonds and tie-breaking goals to Beckham.
The first version is from the 1960s. It has solos by Hamp and the very young baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber, playing with ferocity. The second is from a 1957 TV program hosted by the singer Patti Page. Hamp plays his patented solo, familiar but always swinging, until the full band comes in for the last chorus. The most remarkable thing about this performance is the driving bass playing of Milt Hinton. The only other sideman I can identify is Billy Mackel, Hampton’s guitarist for decades. He is a co-conspirator in swing with Hinton and the drummer, whose face is lost in shadow.
Seat belts, please.
Doug Ramsey on Jazz and other matters...
Thanks for providing the Lionel Hampton video links, that was better than morning coffee!
The one time I saw Hampton play (in 1986)he had more energy than all of his sidemen put together, all of whom looked half his age or younger.
Thought you’d enjoy this other Hampton big band clip
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h2F8LK1F2M).
There’s a lot to love about this one–the sound engineering, all three all-star horn sections, the cooking rhythm section, the tune, the tenor solo, and (most importantly) Hamp himself.
Note that in both versions, they play Illinois Jacquet’s famous recorded tenor solo note-for-note. On the later film, someone nicely orchestrated it for the reed section.
Wow. Cuber is burnin’. That’s remarkable. I had no idea he played with Hamp at that age!
This video made my day, Doug. Thanks!!!