Search - Lionel Hampton :: You Better Know It

Swingtime in the 60s

Nikica Gilic | Zagreb, Croatia | 11/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a fine example of swinging seniors in the mid-sixties, lead by one of the all time champions of swing, exuberant but at times also subtle vibraphone player Lionel Hampton.



His group is really hot, with the horns of Ben Webster and Clark Terry, versatile Hank Jones on piano, Milt Hinton on bass and Ossie Johnson on drums... The mix of well known hits-swinging standards ("Sweetharts on Parade", "Ring Dem Bells") and gentle ballads work very well and this is a true swing bonanza (with the ocasional hint of modernity). In addition to vibes, Hampton also sings and plays piano instead of Jones on the swinging version of "Jingle Bells" ("Swingle Jingle") with only the rhythm section and mighty Ben Webster...

The only thing I don't like about this album is that it is not longer; some of the numbers go into fade out at the moment one would expect at least two more choruses (this was probably done due to the time constraints of the LP format)... Or was it just fashionable to fade out the musicians in the 60s?



Incidentaly; Hamp, Terry, Jones and Hinton joined their (still reasonably strong) forces effectivelly at an much later album of Hampton and his "Golden Men of Jazz" Live at the Blue Note"