Original Chico Hamilton Quintet - Complete Studio Recording - Import CD

Credits:

Original Chico Hamilton Quintet

Description:

Over half a century later, these recordings made by drummer Chico Hamilton between 1955-1956 with his first quintet sound as fresh and unusual as they must have back in the day. The instrumentation of this group helped to form Hamilton's ear for many of the projects he was involved in and bands he would lead throughout his career. The group consisted of Hamilton, Buddy Collette on reeds and woodwinds, bassist Carson Smith, cellist Fred Katz, and guitarist Jim Hall. Given what was transpiring on both coasts at the time -- hard bop out East and the cool sound in the West -- this music walked beyond them both. The varying textures and harmonic possibilities for a group with this instrumentation presented not only unique opportunities but unique challenges as well. In the 21st century, it sounds almost cinematic -- especially on standards like "My Funny Valentine," with a counterpoint, almost modal, lyric line played by Collette as Katz tackles the melody in the lower registers of his instruments. But it's the originals here that are so striking: the tom-tom heavy polyrhythmic structure of Collette's "Blue Sands," the uptempo bass and clarinet sprint that opens Smith's "Jonalah," and Hall's lithe, sprightly, midtempo ballad "Chrissie," with its three-part counterpoint using guitar, flute and cello in a knotty yet seamless labyrinth. In other words, the 15 tracks here, whether familiar numbers such as Russ Freeman's "The Wind," or Collette's banging "The Ghost" all come off as somehow otherworldly because of the complex yet utterly accessible melodic invention even in the most intricate of harmonic engagements. This set, issued by Spain's Fresh Sound imprint as one of four different volumes of Hamilton's early music, contains exhaustive liner notes, current retrospective interviews with all the living players, and decent sound. ~ Thom Jurek|

Tracklisting:

1.A Nice Day - Hamilton, Chico Quintet
2.My Funny Valentine - Hamilton, Chico Quintet
3.Blue Sands - Hamilton, Chico Quintet
4.The Sage - Hamilton, Chico Quintet
5.The Morning After - Hamilton, Chico Quintet
6.Jonalah - Hamilton, Chico Quintet
7.Chrissie - Hamilton, Chico Quintet
8.The Wind - Hamilton, Chico Quintet
9.Gone Lover (When Your Lover Has Gone) - Hamilton, Chico Quintet
10.The Ghost - Hamilton, Chico Quintet
11.Sleepy Slept Here (Santa Monica) - Hamilton, Chico Quintet
12.Takin' a Chance on Love - Hamilton, Chico Quintet
13.The Squimp - Hamilton, Chico Quintet
14.Topsy - Hamilton, Chico Quintet
15.Sleep - Hamilton, Chico Quintet