Search - Stan Getz, Lionel Hampton :: Hampton & Getz

Two giants . . . a great album

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 12/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Both Stan Getz and Lionel Hampton were in Hollywood appearing in the movie "The Benny Goodman Story" when they took some time off to record these sides for Norman Granz's Verve label. (Hamp was even busier: later on that day [8/1/55] he would cut an album for Granz with Art Tatum and Buddy Rich, and the next day he'd bring his big band into the studios to cut yet another LP).



Both men are in fine form and work well together. CHEROKEE, taken up-tempo, has an especially fine solo by Hamp. The other scorcher on the album, JUMPIN' AT THE WOODSIDE, has a good solo by pianist Lou Levy and some uncharacteristic honking by Stan (Getz plays more of an outline of a solo on this number, hitting in spots only the major note in each chord, rather than filling it out). On the slower numbers Getz is very breathy - you can hear the air escaping from the vibrating reed.



GLADYSE is a handsome blues by Hamp (named after his wife) and we get two takes here: the issued take is taken a bit faster than the alternate, and during the exchange of choruses in the alternate Hamp loses count and hits a clam. There's an unknown trombone player added on HEADACHE (conjecture says it might be Willie Ruff), but he's very much in the background. HAMP AND GETZ is a wonderful success and is very easy to take. This is what mainstream jazz at it's finest is all about."

Another Fine Swing Session from the Verve Vaults

William Faust | Columbus, Ohio | 07/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Norman Granz (Verve founder and JATP Producer) must have been like a kid in a candy store in the 1950's when he was planning which all-stars to pair in various recordings and tours. His stable included a virtual who's who of big band legends and jazz up-and-comers and this session represents exactly that kind of pairing. You have Lionel Hampton on vibes, swing band icon who also became famous with the Benny Goodman small groups and Stan Getz on tenor who, at the time of this recording wasn't all that far removed from his seat in the famous "Four Brothers" sax section of Woody Herman. Backed by the quintessential west coast rhythm section of Levy, Vinnegar and Manne.....it swings!"

Cool Bop Meets Swing

L. J. Allen | Atlanta, GA United States | 01/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
Riddle: What happens when a tenor sax player of the Cool Bop School meets with a vibraphone player from the Swing School for a recording session? Answer: A recording session with the crackle and pop of lightening, where each player pushes the other to new and greater improvisational heights. From start to finish Lionel Hampton & Stan Getz play everything from Hard Bop Swing to sultry ballads with neither man upstaging or outshining the other.



What becomes apparent in this session is the mutual inspiration that Hamp & Getz draw from one another. "JUMPIN' AT THE WOODSIDE" and "CHEROKEE", the longest tracks featured, present both men at their virtuosic and pyrotechnic best. This recording will also be an eye-opener for Getz fans who are primarily familiar with his Cool and Bossa Nova recordings. His session with Lionel Hampton confirmed him as one of the most diverse saxophonists to emerge in the Bop and Post-Bop eras. This CD is a most welcome reissue of an extremely important Jazz collaboration."