Search - Hampton Hawes :: All Night Session

Great extended bop jamming

Michael G. Mcneill | Rochester, NY United States | 05/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first of a three volumes of an all-night recording session. Here, the superb quartet (rounded out by Jim Hall, Red Mitchell, and Buzz Freeman) take a little longer with each tune than on the other volumes (perhaps they got tired), and also treat two bluesy Hawes originals ("Takin' Care" and "Hampton's Pulpit"). Mr. Hawes solos with vigor, occasionally brining the feel into double time or Latin. I am particularly impressed with the interaction between Mr. Hawes and Mr. Hall. They make a great frontline team, completing each other's phrases and overlapping their lines. As a jazz pianist, I know it is very difficult to work with another chordal instrument. These two do an exemplary job."

Landmark Jazz piano!

Pat Marafiote | NYC Area | 05/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you enjoy jazz piano, the All Night Session series is an essential addition to your library. The folks at Contemporary Records switched on the recorder and Hampton, Jim Hall, Red Mitchell, and Buzz Freeman played through the night and in to the next day making some incredibly magical recordings!



Hampton Hawes is one of the most underrated and unknown pianists in the jazz heritage. He is as talented and gifted as other icons of his era like Bill Evans, Bud Powell, Horace Silver, Tommy Flanagan, and Red Garland. In my opinion, his mastery of the jazz-blues bebop style is without equal. Listen to "Hampton's Pulpit" or "Blue n Boogie" for examples. Hampton swings hard and with a ferocity that lifts you out of your seat. On hard-core uptempo bop tunes he is at his peak on these recordings. Check out "Broadway" - the intro is reminiscent of vintage Parker, but played on piano. It conjurs up memories of the famous Parker alto break on the DIal Night in Tunisia recording.



Hampton's technique was precise. He had Horace Silver's sharp aggressive attack with Bud Powell's mastery of uptempo extended melodic lines. If you take Hawe's playing apart and analyze it, you'll find that he had a library of bebop and vintage blues phrases that he used repeatedly but had an ability to keep firing them out chorus after chorus with intense soul, passion, and fire!



Hampton was a sensitive comper. Listen to his backing of Jim Hall on these recordings and you can appreciate his light rhythmic support. By the way, Jim Hall sounds fantastic on this set - relaxed, articulate, and inspired.



All three All Night Session discs are very highly recommended! Hopefully Hampton's playing will deservedly reach more listeners in years to come."