Biography

Bandleader, percussionist and vibraphone virtuoso who worked with the likes of Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker and Quincy Jones and became of the big names in jazz himself.
On MPS you can find his record “Alive & Jumping” together with Milt Buckner. Recorded live in concert in Villingen on May 7th, 1977.

Alive & Jumping

Maybe it’s taking an old warhorse like Avalon and turning it into a thoroughbred, with Cat Anderson’s pulsating screech trumpet heralding the race. Or it could be Hamp’s classic Midnight Sun with its mysterioso vibraphone prelude. One thing’s for sure: Alive and Jumping is a “live” jazz-fest. It’s also a master-class in swing, as Milt Buckner’s cascading chromatic runs on the 1944 hit Hamp’s Boogie Woogie rile up the crowd, and the tune’s call and response choruses unearth the roots of rock ‘n roll. On Funky Mama, Eddie Chamblee’s ripping, rocking sax solo along with Cat Anderson’s growling wa-wa mute and high-note antics bring down the house. A must for all Lionel Hampton fans!