A double-length collection of work from the
Chico Hamilton and his famous cellist
Fred Katz – two albums from the 50s, back to back on a single CD! First up is Zen, issued under
Katz's name for Pacific Jazz – recorded at the time when he was the cello player in
Chico Hamilton's groundbreaking late 50s group! The tunes are distinctly more modern than even his work with
Chico – and are played by
Hamilton-esque players that include Paul Horn or Harry Klee on flute and saxes, Carson Smith on bass, John Pisano on guitar, and
Chico himself on drums and tympani. There's some added strings and woodwinds on a number of tracks, and the tunes move between 50s chamber jazz and 50s chamber modern – with titles that include "Montuna", "
Katz Up", "Loma", "Pluck It", "Lord Randall", and "Suite For Horn". Next up is the
Chico Hamilton Quintet album for Pacific Jazz, a classic from the west coast scene of the 50s – recorded in 1956 at the Forum Theater in Los Angeles – with a lineup that features
Hamilton on drums, Paul Horn on alto and tenor sax and clarinet, John Pisano on guitar,
Fred Katz on cello and Carson Smith on bass. The work's very much in
Hamilton's best sprightly chamber jazz mode – with some great originals that include "Chanel #5", "Mr. Jo Jones", and "Reflections" – plus
Hamilton-ized versions of "Satin Doll", "Caravan", "Siete-Cuatro", "I Know", and "Lillian".