Jazz Articles about Lionel Hampton

Lionel Hampton: Jazz Legend

by Jim Santella
January 27, 2006

Lionel Hampton Lionel Hampton: Jazz Legend King of the Vibes Hudson Music 2006

Unlike some musical biographies, this one places the music above the commentary. Vibraphonist Mike Mainieri and drummer Steve Smith share a narration that discusses the career of Lionel Hampton, and they allow plenty of room for the music to tell its side of the story. Hampton is seen here in many film clips all over the world, ...

Lionel Hampton & The Golden Men of Jazz

by AAJ Staff
October 17, 2005

Lionel Hampton Lionel Hampton & The Golden Men of Jazz Geneon Entertainment 2005

A document of interest from Hamp's evidently very successful '93 European tour features his as-billed “Golden Men of Jazz octet. The soloist close-ups put the viewer beyond being in the front row - it's as if you were literally hovering right in front of each these eight legends! In addition to the great collective playing, each musician was allotted a Hamp-less ...

Lionel Hampton: "Flying Home"

by David Rickert
August 22, 2005

Second Balcony Jump

In his autobiography Malcolm X described the first time he heard “Flying Home. “People kept shouting for Hamp's “Flying Home and finally he did it. I had never seen such fever heated dancing. In his autobiography, Lionel Hampton tells the story of the time at the Apollo when a guy who had smoked too much marijuana launched himself from the second balcony when the band played the song, apparently in the mistaken belief that he could “fly ...

Lionel Hampton: Classics

by AAJ Staff
May 10, 2002

When Lionel Hampton was signed by Victor 1937, he was given something very special by recording director Eli Oberstein; an open invitation to record whenever and with whomever he wanted. And whenever Hampton was in New York he would gather together the best talent in the city and lay down some of the best all-star jams of any time. The results are exceptional performances by the royalty of jazz. This re-issue collection compiles some of the best and star studded ...

Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra: 1944-45 Broadcasts

by Jack Bowers
April 12, 2002

LIonel Hampton, the first musician to establish the vibraphone as a viable component of Jazz instrumentation, was (with Red Norvo) one of its acknowledged monarchs when these air–check performances were recorded in 1944–45, mostly for the benefit of U.S. servicemen at home and abroad. Hamp was a product of the Swing Era and his bands always swung, powered in this case by such capable sidemen as trumpeters Snooky Young and Cat Anderson, Texas tenor Arnett Cobb, trombonist Booty Wood, pianist ...

Lionel Hampton: Live at Carnegie Hall -- 50th Anniversary Concert

by Jack Bowers
June 1, 1999

One of the most remarkable aspects of Live at Carnegie Hall, which celebrates the legendary vibraphonist Lionel Hampton’s 50th anniversary in music, is that the concert was held in 1978 — more than two decades ago — and Hamp, now 91, is still going strong! Yes, he has lost a step or two, and must be helped onstage, but once he’s positioned behind the vibes the years seem to melt away, chased into some nether region by his infectious enthusiasm ...