专辑简介

Just as surely as Gerry Mulligan was writing history in the days of his piano-less quartets, so his sidemen were destined to establish a firm niche of their own in contemporary jazz. The accomplishments of drummer Chico Hamilton and his distinctive quintet have marked a milestone in the evolution of the art. “Taste and good form,” according to Chico, “are the basic ingredients of this five-man unit in which every guy is a great technician as well as a good jazzman. It’s a happy setup.” The word happy has a much broader meaning to the destiny of the Chico Hamilton Quintet than the symmetry of its music. The group has criss-crossed the United States and Canada in successful club appearances and is constantly in demand at the major jazz festivals because of its characteristically modern interpretations and experiments. Developing what is termed the “subtle sound” of this versatile unit, spans fifteen years in the life of Chico Hamilton. He has travelled the path from the wrist-breaking Lionel Hampton and Charlie Barnet bands to the super-soft rhythms of Lena Horne’s intrumentation and has settled on a style that is as flexible as any group ever assembled. It is probably the only group in existence that incorporates Bach and Charlie Parker in such a precise manner. The material selected for these sides is a strong representation of that premise, since it is graded from Chico’s jet-propelled Opening to the moody harmonics of Lady E. Even the most casual student of the performing arts will recognize the challenge which orchestrating for this quintet offers and the extreme good taste which it demands. The talented hands of Eric Dolphy, Gerald Wiggins and Fred Katz have shaped the many moods recorded herein. As the artistic history of jazz is written, and its components placed in perspective, the distinctive Chico Hamilton Quintet may one day mark a turning point in ensemble cretivity.