Song:Seven Come Eleven
DVD:Lionel Hampton & The Golden Men Of Jazz
Of course Lionel Hampton was one of the all time jazz greats and one of the first vibraphone players. He became famous in the 40s but faded by the 60s because he never changed his music style. He didn't care much for bebop. But he was still enough of a draw that he could always put a band together and tour Europe successfully. And that's what this DVD is about. In 1991, Hampton suffered a stroke while on tour in Paris. He was able to continue but his management knew his touring activities would have to be more prudent. So they decided to put together a band of jazz senior citizens and call them The Golden Men Of Jazz. It looks like this band recorded a couple of CDs for Telarc. But a 1993 Munich show was taped and is now available on DVD. I would assume it aired on German TV. Pioneer released it on DVD in 2005 and Kultur rereleased it in 2011. Musicians include Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet, Clark Terry on flugelhorn, Benny Golson on sax, Al Grey on trombone, Junior Mance on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass and Panama Francis on drums. I think it's fair to say those horn players are all senior citizens and jazz greats. Seven Come Eleven was written by Benny Goodman and Charlie Christian and Hampton was in Goodman's band when it was first recorded. The song has been in Hampton's repertoire for years and has been recorded by many jazz musicians. The song doesn't appear on either Telarc CD which is why I am featuring the DVD. Hampton continued to tour despite health problems until his death on Aug. 31, 2002 at age 94. Here's Lionel Hampton performing Seven Come Eleven in Munich 1993 from the DVD Lionel Hampton & The Golden Men Of Jazz.
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