# Legendary jazz drummer and bandleader ‘Chico’ Hamilton: Video

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2017/09/21/legendary-jazz-drummer-bandleader-chico-hamilton-video/
- Published: 2017-09-21T23:04:30+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**21.09. – Happy Birthday !!! Foreststorn ‘Chico’ Hamilton, born September 21st,
1921 in Los Angeles, had a fast track musical education in a band with his schoolmates
Charles Mingus, Illinois Jacquet, Ernie Royal, Dexter Gordon, Buddy Collette and
Jack Kelso. Engagements with Lionel Hampton, Slim & Slam, T-Bone Walker, Lester 
Young, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Charlie Barnett, Billy Eckstine, Nat King Cole,
Sammy Davis Jr., Billie Holiday, Gerry Mulligan and six years with Lena Horne established
this young West Coast prodigy as a jazz drummer on the rise, before striking out
on his own as a bandleader in 1955.**

Chico appears in the March Milastaire number in the film “You’ll Never Get Rich”(
1941) as part of the backing group supporting Fred Astaire, and performed on the
soundtrack of the Bing Crosby/Bob Hope film “Road to Bali”.

Chico’s impact upon jazz includes the introduction of two unique and distinct sounds:
first in 1955 with his Original Quintet which combined the sounds of his drums, 
the bass of Carson Smith, the guitar of Jim Hall, the cello of Fred Katz, and the
flute of Buddy Collette; and the second in 1962 with his own drums, the bass of 
Albert Stinson, the guitar of Gabor Szabo, the tenor sax of Charles Lloyd, and the
trombone of George Bohanon.

Recorded first lp as leader in ’55 with George Duvivier and Howard Roberts for Pacific
Jazz; in ’55 formed an unusual quintet in L.A. feat. cello, flute, guitar, bass 
and drums which acquired national following; the original personnel incl. Buddy 
Collette, Jim Hall, Fred Katz and Carson Smith; Hamilton continued to tour using
different personnel ’57-’60; group incl. Paul Horne and John Pisano feat. in the
film “Sweet Smell of Success” in ’57; group incl. Nate Gershman and Eric Dolphy 
app. in film “Jazz on a Summer’s Day” in ’60; Dolphy makes first recordings with
Hamilton on “With Strings Attached”, “Gongs East”, “The Three Faces of Chico”, and“
That Hamilton Man”.

Hamilton revamps group in ’61 with new musical direction; new group incl. Charles
Lloyd, Gabor Szabo, George Bohanon and Albert Stinson; group records for Columbia,
Reprise and Impulse also records soundtrack for industrial film “Litho” in ’62, 
the first American film to be shown behind the Iron Curtain. Hamilton forms commercial
and film production company in ’65; scores the feature films “Repulsion”, “Mr. Rico”,“
By Design”, “Liebe Auf Den Ersten Blick”, “Die Sonnengottin”, and “A Practical Man”;
scores for television “Portrait of Willie Mays” and the popular children’s series“
Gerald McBoing Boing”; scores hundreds of commercials for TV and radio. Forms new
group with Larry Coryell, Richard Davis and Arnie Lawrence in ’66 and records “The
Dealer” for Impulse. Performs Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals in ’72 and ’
73. Forms new “Players” group in ’75 w. Arthur Blythe, Steve Turre, Barry Finnerty
and Abdullah; tours with “Players” using different personnel ’76-’80; records for
Blue Note, Mercury, Nautilus and Elektra. Originating faculty member in ’87 of New
School University Jazz & Contemporary Music Program.

Forms new group “Euphoria” in ’87 w. Eric Person, Cary DeNigris and Reggie Washington;
records “Euphoria” ’87; tours Europe with “Euphoria” ’87, ’88, ’90. Performs at 
Verona, Bolzano, Vienne, Nice, North Sea and Montreux Jazz Festivals in ’89 with
regrouped original quintet w. Buddy Collette, Fred Katz, John Pisano, Carson Smith;
records “Reunion” for Soul Note. For Soul Note records “Arroyo” with “Euphoria” 
group, “Trio!” w. Eric Person , Cary DeNigris, Eric Dolphy tribute “My Panamanian
Friend” with “Euphoria” group, and solo drum session “Dancing to a Different Drummer”.
Tours Europe with “Euphoria” group ’94. Hamilton subject of documentary film by 
director Julian Benedikt “Dancing to a Different Drummer” ’94. 1997 Hamilton receives
the New School University Jazz & Contemporary Music Program’s Beacons in Jazz Award
in recognition for his “significant contribution to the evolution of Jazz”.

Hamilton releases “Foreststorn” in 2001 featuring his new “Euphoria” group with 
stalwarts Cary DeNigris on guitar, Paul Ramsey on bass, and a new two horn front
line featuring Eric Lawrence on alto and soprano saxes and Evan Schwam on tenor 
sax, as well as Special Guest Appearances from Former Band members Arthur Blythe,
Steve Turre and his wife Akua Dixon, Eric Person, former Spin Doctors guitarist 
Eric Schenkman (a student of Chico’s), Blues Traveler front man John Popper (also
a student of Chico’s), and Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones. August 2001 performs
in front of 2300 people at Lincoln Center “My Funny Valentine- A Tribute to Chico
Hamilton” with “Euphoria” plus Special Guest Appearances from Joe Beck, Arthur Blythe,
Larry Coryell, Akua Dixon, Rodney Jones and Eric Person. Fall 2002 releases “Thoughts
of…” with his “Euphoria” group with Special Guest Appearances from guitarists and
former band members Joe Beck, Larry Coryell and Rodney Jones.

In 1997, Chico received the New School University Jazz & Contemporary Music Programs
Beacons in Jazz Award in recognition for his “significant contribution to the evolution
of Jazz”. In 2002, Chico was awarded the WLIU-FM Radio Lifetime Achievement Award.
At the IAJE in NYC January 2004, Hamilton was awarded a NEA Jazz Master Fellowship,
presented to him by Roy Haynes. In December 2006, Congress confirmed the President’s
nomination of Chico to the Presidents Council on the Arts. And in 2007, Chico received
a Living Legacy Jazz Award as part of The Kennedy Center Jazz in Our Time Festival,
as well as receiving a Doctor of Fine Arts from The New School.

Dynamic as ever at the age of 86, Chico Hamilton has a resume that includes scores
for film, original compositions, commercial jingles, 50 + albums as a leader, and
countless international tours. In 2006, Chico released four CD’s on Joyous Shout!
in celebration of his 85th birthday: “Juniflip” featuring guest appearances from-
legendary Love front- man Arthur Lee, criminally under-rated vocalist (and successful
actor) Bill Henderson, and former Hamilton band members trombonist George Bohanon
and bass trombonist Jimmy Cheatham; “Believe” with Special Guest appearances from
vocalist and R & B Diva Fontella Bass and trombonist George Bohanon; “6th Avenue
Romp” featuring Special Guest appearances from guitarist Shuggie Otis, trumpeter
Jon Faddis, trombonist George Bohanon, vocalist Brenna Bavis and percussionist Jaimoe
of the Allman Brothers Band; and “Heritage” with Special Guest appearances from 
vocalist Marya Lawrence and tromboist George Bohanon. September 2007, Chico released“
Hamiltonia” sampling his original compositions from the four albums released in 
2006. “Hamiltonia” is an impassioned statement of purpose- an emphatic endorsement
of writing and performing THIS music in the NOW, the way the GREATS did in their
time, and confirms Hamilton’s status as one of the most important living jazz artists
and composers.

Over the years, Chico has had a series of dance floor successes, including his signature
song “Conquistadors from his 60’s Impulse album “El Chico”, and the Brazilian influenced
song “Strut” from Chico’s 1979 outing on Elektra “Nomad”, which became so successful
on the Northern Soul Scene in the U.K. that it had its own dance!! “Conquistadors”
also was the signature track for E-man when he rocked the dance floor at Frank’s
Cocktail Lounge in Brooklyn. In 2002 a track titled “For Mods Only” from Chico’s
1968 Impulse album “The Dealer”, was included on the [Thievery Corporations “Sounds
from the Verve Hi-Fi”. Fall 2006, Rong Music released the 12” vinyl “Kerry’s Caravan”
from Mudd & Chico Hamilton, a moody yet stunning slice of modern music and a molten
melting pot ready made for filling the dance floor with remixes from long-term Idjut
Boys collaborator and Fiasco imprint boss Ray Mang!! And the recent Impulsive! Remix
Project features Mark De Clive Lowe’s take on Chico’s classic 60s track “El Toro”.
Released December of 2007 from SoulFeast (Joaquin ‘Joe’ Claussell & Brian Michel
Bacchus) on 12” Limited Edition Vinyl is their recasting of Chico’s classic track“
Mysterious Maiden”, and coming Spring 2008 from SoulFeast is a CD & double vinyl
12” EP “Chico Hamilton Presents: Alternative Dimensions of El-Chico”.

Chico is presently teaching at New School University Jazz & Contemporary Music Program;
touring extensively in North America with “Euphoria” group which includes Cary DeNigris
on guitar, Paul Ramsey on bass, Evan Schwam on flute, tenor and soprano saxes, and
Ian Young on flute, alto and baritone saxes, and Jeremy Carlstedt on percussion;
recording with his “Euphoria” group and special guests; composing and performing
music for film; and working on autobiography.

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