Artist:Lionel Hampton
Song:Flying Home
Album:Lionel Hampton And The Just Jazz All Stars
Lionel Hampton was the first jazz vibraphonist and had a long career because of his showmanship and ability to adapt to changing musical styles. He was born Apr. 20, 1909 in Louisville, KY. He started out as a drummer. He was at a 1930 Louis Armstrong recording session. The vibraphone was in the studio and Armstrong asked Hampton to try it. Hampton's big break came when Benny Goodman discovered him playing in a Los Angeles club in 1936. He joined Teddy Wilson & Buddy Rich in the Goodman quartet until 1940. He started his own big band and had a huge hit with Flying Home in 1942 featuring sax player Illinois Jacquet. This 1947 live recording has an excellent 11 minute extended jam of Flying Home with Charlie Shavers on trumpet, Corky Corcoran on tenor sax, Willie Smith on alto sax, Milt Buckner on piano, Slam Stewart on bass and Lee Young on drums. GNP-Crescendo released it on CD in 1993. Into the 50s and beyond, Hampton was usually a guest musician on all star sessions and was in demand until his death on Aug. 31, 2002 at age 93. Certainly Lionel Hampton was one of the pioneers of jazz. Here's Lionel Hampton performing Flying Home on the 1957 TV show The Big Record hosted by Patti Page.
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