Hamp

The Hamp in concert

A few months ago I read an eye-witness story of the Lionel Hampton concert in the Amsterdam Concert Building in the mid 1950's. It was a great story and it must have been absolute mayhem where girls were barefoot trampling the empty beerbottles.

Mind you - this was 'state-of-the-art' niggah-music is those days (jazz) and probably an early warning for the wild 1960's that were to come. This track gives you a slight impression what must have happend.

Lionel [1908-2002] started his career in the 1920's on drums and he played with a lot of famous jazz performers. But when he switched to vibraphone and got his own band, his career and reputation really went ballistic.

And then this Bluesman poster came around with some great albums (many thanks Bluesman).
Here is a top quality recording from 1956. Pretty cool and easy jazz.
- the first track (18MB.)
- the 'May 1956' album, CD1
- the 'May 1956' album, CD2

The albums from Paris are a little bit 'hotter'.
- the first track (22MB.)
- the 'French New Sound' album, volume 1
- the 'French New Sound' album, volume 2

Enjoy