Features the tracks "Flying Home", "June Moon", "Autumn", "Starry Night", "Out Of Gas" and "Short Of Breath". LP, Vinyl record album

A number of sessions from the late 30s compiled here, with notable sidemen including Cootie Williams, Mezz Mezzrow, Johnny Hodges, Cozy Cole, Buster Bailey, Chu Berry, and many more. CD

Features the tracks "Undecided", "Dark Eyes", "Romeo's Gone Now", "Reindeer", "Loch Lomond", "My Man", "Too Much" and "Time For Lyons". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer set from the great Lionel Hampton – the first issued on his own small indie label! The group here is that hip 50s ensemble that had Hamp really evolving past his roots, and allowing lots of room for up-and coming younger players – including Harold Mabern on piano, Calvin Newborn on guitar, Virgil Jones on trumpet, and Eddie Pazant on sax! Also features some guest work from King Curtis on tenor and Tommy Flanagan on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

Recorded in Paris with Walter Williams on trumpet, Al Hayse and Jame Cleveland on trombones, William Montgomery on electric bass, and Curley Hamner on drums, plus Mezz Mezzrow, Claude Bolling, and Clifford Scott. Titles include "Always", "September In The Rain", "Real Crazy (More Crazy)", and "Real Crazy (More & More)". LP, Vinyl record album

A lively little concet performance from the Lionel Hampton group – with Hamp himself on vibes, plus piano and drums – and a lineup that includes Snooky Young and Joe Newman on trumpets, Al Grey and Garnett Brown on trombones, Billy Mackel on guitar – and Jerome Richardson, Frank Foster, and Eddie Pazant on saxes! LP, Vinyl record album

Features the tracks "Air Mail Special", "Oh Lady Be Good", "Gabby's Gabbin", "Don't Flee The Scene Salty", "Love You Like Mad" & more. LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of Hamp's late 30s recordings issued in 1959, featuring Chu Berry, Lawrence Brown, Rex Stewart, Ziggy Elman, Harry Hames, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter, Cootie Williams, Jonah Jones, Coleman Hawkins, Nat King Cole, and many more! LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the tracks "Skylark", "What's New", "Til You Return", "Blue Moon", "For Better Or Worse" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A warm and wonderful 60s session from Lionel Hampton – recorded in a personal and intimate way, one that even surpasses his great small combo sides of the 50s! There's a relaxed feel here that you don't always get with Hamp – a gently grooving quality that we really like a lot, and which is traditional, but never too staid or too "easy" in its choices. The set benefits from some really strong horn work from Clark Terry on trumpet and Ben Webster on tenor – the latter of whom really crackles out with a great sound here. Other players include Milt Hinton on bass, Hank Jones on piano, and Osie Johnson on drums – and there's also a very slight bit of vocalizing on the record as well. Titles include "Tempo's Birthday", "Vibraphone Blues", "Trick Or Treat", "Cute", "Swingle Jingle", and "Taste Of Honey". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little album that's one of Getz's strongest from the period! The format for the album is in the mode of Hampton's early 50s Verve sides – long tracks, very open-ended, cut in a small group format that shows a different side than his more popular big band grooving. There's only 5 tracks on the album – and the focus is on solo work by Hamp and Getz, with rhythm by Lou Levy, Leroy Vinnegar, and Shelly Manne. Titles include "Louise", "Jumpin At The Woodside", "Gladys", and a long ballad medley. Nice David Stone Martin cover, too! CD

A well-done 70s meeting of these two older players – recorded in the warm and laidback context of the Sonet studios, with a group that seems especially well-matched for the talents of both players! Hampton's nicely restrained on vibes in the set – often playing in a mellow mode that rings out with more tonal colors that we remember from his American sessions of the time – and Svend's work on violin is sweet, but never cloying, probably a good reason for the laidback tone from Hampton! Other players include Ed Thigpen on drums, Rune Ofwerman on piano, and Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass – and titles include "Avalon", "As Time Goes By", "Rose Room", "Midnight Sun", and "Flyin Home". LP, Vinyl record album

A mixed bag of work from Buddy and Hamp – part straight jazz, and part sweet electric funk! The first two-thirds of the album features Rich and Hampton with Terry Wilson on piano, Zoot Sims on tenor, and George Duvivier on bass – grooving hard in that open-ended way of some of Hampton's small group dates for Verve from the early 50s, on titles that include "Avalon", "Ring Dem Bells", "Ham Hock Blues", and "Air Mail Special". The last third of the album features a larger group – still with Rich and Hampton, but also with some keyboards from Kenny Barron, plus tenor by Sal Nistico and guitar from Jack Wilson. The vibe on these tracks is a bit more 70s-styled – with some of the soaring electric modes you might expect from Groove Merchant! Titles include "EG" and "Fum" – both great funky numbers! LP, Vinyl record album

If you ask us, Hamp from this time is a lot more exciting than he was in the early days! Here, Hampton's working with his very popular mid 50s orchestra – in an open-ended Verve setting that lets the group play long and open-ended versions of the sorts of material that they'd do in a live setting. Given that they were one of the hardest working bands in the country at the time, they're all quite juiced in the setting – and you'll hear them wail on an album-side reading of "Flying Home", plus 2 other long tracks, "Dinah" and "This Can't Be Love". Hamp's vibes are best of all – nice and hard, a real precursor to the tone that Bobby Hutcherson used early on! LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent work by Lionel Hampton – one of his standout French recordings from the 50s, handled with a quality level that was sometimes missing from his American work! Hamp's on both vibes and piano in the set, and also does a bit of singing as well – playing with a swinging lineup that includes the great Guy Lafitte on tenor sax, Claude Bolling on piano, and Billy Mackel on guitar. Tracks include "Le Piege", "Jazz Stars News", "Panama", "Genevieve", "Jam For Brigitte", "What's New", and "Hamp Swings The Bells". CD

Late work by vibist Lionel Hampton – but pretty darn nice! The set was recorded in Paris, where Hamp seemed to do some of his best work, and it features his vibes fronting an octet with alto and tenor sax, piano, trombone, guitar, and even an occasional bit of organ. Tracks are longish – especially the best ones, which are the soul jazz groovers "Blue Lou" and "Psychedelic Sally", which is done here in a great slightly funky version that sounds different than most of what we'd expect from Hamp! Other tracks include "Hamp's Thing", "Vibraphone Blues", and "Seven Come Eleven". CD

With Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Fletcher Henderson, Jerry Jerome, Frankie Hines, Nick Fatool, Count Basie, Georgie Auld & others. CD

With players including Zoot Sims, Harry James, Gene Krupa, Lou McGarity, Cutty Cutshall, Lionel Hampton, Fletcher Henderson, Charlie Christian, Red Norvo, and Russ Freeman. LP, Vinyl record album

An early Norm Granz production, before they were issued under the JATP moniker, though basically the same idea. In fact, this set would later get repackaged as a JATP side. As you'd expect, it's an all star cast, with a group that includes Flip Phillips, Lester Young, Illinois Jacquet, Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson and Buddy Rich. Side one is a blowing session entitled "Jam Blues" and side two is the "Ballad Medley" stringing together bits of "Tenderly", "I've Got The World On A String", "What's New", "I Got It Bad & That Ain't Good","Don't Blame Me", "Imagination", "Someone To Watch Over Me", "Body & Soul" and "She's Funny That Way". LP, Vinyl record album

Art Tatum with Louie Bellson, Red Callender, Benny Carter, Buddy De Franco, Bill Douglass, Roy Eldridge, Lionel Hampton, Jo Jones, Buddy Rich, John Simmons, Alvin Stoller & Ben Webster. CD

With Lionel Hampton, Harry Edison, Buddy Rich, Red Callender and Barney Kessel. CD

More jazz than blues, but that's OK with us – as the material here is mostly from the 78rpm era of Decca and Coral Records! Includes tracks by Louis Jordan, Sonny Parker, Billie Holiday, Cousin Joe, Lil Armstrong, Trisie Smith, Lonnie Johnson, Joan Shaw, Lionel Hampton, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Sister Rosetta Tharp, Lucky Millinder, and Sammy Price. LP, Vinyl record album

Benny Goodman's famous 1938 live date at Carnegie Hall – with work from Teddy Wilson and Count Basie on piano, Lionel Hampton on vibes, Johnny Hodges on alto, Cootie Williams and Buck Clayton on trumpet, and Lester Young on tenor – plus Gene Krupa on drums, on his famous reading of "Sing Sing Sing". CD

Includes 20 tracks featuring Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson, Gene Krupa, Jess Stacy and others including "Bugle Call Rag", "One O'Clock Jump", "Exactly Like You", "Moonglow", "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen", "Glory Of Love" and "Avalon". CD

An excellent LP collection of Jacquet's early work for the Aladdin label – hard-grooving numbers cut on the heels of his fame with the Lionel Hampton group, a mixture of swing, bop, and a bit of R&B. Titles include "Sahara Heat", "Illinois Blows The Blues", "Goofin Off", "Flying Home (parts 1 & 2)", "Throw It Out Of Your Mind Baby", "For Europeans Only", "Jivin With Jack The Bellboy", and "It's Wild". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent work from the glory days of Impulse Records – tracks from sessions for the label's most famous albums, but never issued until this special package! We're not normally ones to dig various artists collections in jazz, but this series is wonderful – an essential counterpart to the main records on Impulse, and filled with work that really offers a fresh look at the musicians. This 2nd volume is a bit more mainstream than some of the others, but still quite nice – and titles include "Gloria" by JJ Johnson, "Dear Old Stockholm" by John Coltrane, "Anything I Do" by Tommy Flanagan, "Moon Over My Annie" by Lionel Hampton, "The Blues Ain't Nothin But Some Pain" by Shirley Scott, and "Night Lights" by Oliver Nelson. LP, Vinyl record album

An album recorded in celebration of the anniversary of Benny Goodman's 1938 appearance at Carnegie Hall – but one that features a host of famous guest stars that include Mary Lou Williams, Buddy Tate, and Lionel Hampton! The groove is somewhat in the spirit of the older concert, but there's certainly some modern touches too – not just in the way the music is recorded (crystal clear, as is the Phase 4 way), but also in some of the tonal shadings in the tunes – clearly informed with a bit of the modernisms of the intervening 40 years. Titles include "Send In The Clowns", "Star Dust", "I Love A Piano", "Roll Em", "Rocky Raccoon", "String Of Pearls", "Goodbye", "Christopher Columbus", "Lady Be Good", and "Don't Be That Way". LP, Vinyl record album

Louis Armstrong is on the cover, but the set also features work from a nice mix of "friends" – other important artists from the postwar years, who help round out this collection of Holiday favorites! Louis Armstrong sings on "Christmas In New Orleans", "White Christmas", "Christmas Night In Harlem", "Winter Wonderland", "Zat You Santa Claus", and "Cool Yule" – and other tracks include "Silent Night" by Dinah Washington, "The Christmas Song" by Mel Torme, "It's Christmas Time Again" by Peggy Lee, "May Everyday Be Christmas" by Louis Jordan, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by Lena Horne, "Merry Christmas Baby" by Lionel Hampton, "Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt, and "Jingle Bells" by Duke Ellington. CD

A very different Christmas collection than usual – as this set features mostly pre-war blues with a very gritty feel – and not the usual Holiday warmth you might know from more famous records! Much of this material was originally issued on 78rpm discs, and has this gritty vibe that reminds us that although some folks are snug and warm on December 25th, there's other folks out there who aren't having such a great time – stories spun out here that involve lost love, isolation, and incarceration! As the swing years move in, a few tracks get a bit jazzy – but often still have strongly blue undercurrents. The package is a double-length set – with 42 tracks in all – titles that include "No Christmas Blues" by Marry Harris, "Santa Claus Blues" by Peetie Wheatstraw, "Christmas Song" by Leadbelly, "Gin For Christmas" by Lionel Hampton, "Santa Claus Bring Me A New Woman" by Bumblebee Slim, "Santa Claus Crave"b y Elzadie Robinson, "Christmas In Jail" by Leroy Carr, "Santa Claus Blues" by Eva Taylor, "Christmas Christmas Blues" by Charlie Jordan, "New Santa Claus" by Walter Davis – and lots lots more! CD

The ghost of Christmas past comes back to haunt us – but in the grooviest way possible, thanks to a fab selection of old school Holiday tunes from the folks at Bear Family! The music here is mostly from the 40s and 50s – and is mostly vocal overall, sung by artists who move through jazz, R&B, and pop vocal styles – often putting an extra sort of punch in a Christmas tune, with the kind of upbeat, optimistic quality that was often the best part of mainstream postwar music! There's few folks we'd trust more than Bear Family for a collection like this – and they do a great job – with titles that include "Here Comes Santa Claus" by The Mills Brothers, "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" by Lionel Hampton with Sonny Parker, "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus" by Ralph Martierie, "The Christmas Spell" by Peggy Lee, "Santa Claus Got Stuck In My Chimney" by Ella Fitzgerald, "I Need A Man For Xmas" by Thelma Cooper, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by Johnny Mercer, "The Man With The Bag" by Kay Starr, and "Cool Yule" by Louis Armstrong. LP, Vinyl record album

The ghost of Christmas past comes back to haunt us – but in the grooviest way possible, thanks to a fab selection of old school Holiday tunes from the folks at Bear Family! The music here is mostly from the 40s and 50s – and is mostly vocal overall, sung by artists who move through jazz, R&B, and pop vocal styles – often putting an extra sort of punch in a Christmas tune, with the kind of upbeat, optimistic quality that was often the best part of mainstream postwar music! There's few folks we'd trust more than Bear Family for a collection like this – and they do a great job, serving up 27 classic tunes that include "Merry Christmas Baby" by Lionel Hampton, "Here Comes Santa Claus" by The Mills Brothers, "Christmas Island" by The Andrews Sisters, "I Need A Man For Xmas" by Thelma Cooper, "What Will Santa Claus Say" by Louis Prima, "The Christmas Spell" by Peggy Lee, "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus" by Ralph Marterie, "Frosty The Snowman" by Perry Como, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by The Ames Brothers, "Let It Snow" by Les Brown, "The Man With The Bag" by Kay Starr, "Swingin Them Jingle Bells" by Fats Waller, "Christmas Boogie" by Sugar Chile Robinson, and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by Johnny Mercer. CD

The sound of jazz is always the sound of Christmas in our house – as there's a certain sort of vibe that the music seems to bring to the holiday – where the warmth and personal energy of a jazz performance can really open up a Christmas tune! This set is a great illustration of that quality – as it brings together a wonderful array of Holiday jazz performances – many from the 60s, at a time when the blend of jazz and Christmas was really hitting its heights – plus a few well-chosen numbers from later years, including some Blue Note recordings mixed in with Verve numbers. Titles include "Here Comes Santa Claus" by Ramsey Lewis, "The Little Drummer Boy" by Kenny Burrell, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Tom Scott, "Frosty The Snowman" by Roy Hargrove & Christmas McBride, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Jimmy Smith, "Let It Snow" by Nelson Rangell, "I'll Be Home For Christmas/Sleigh Ride" by Eliane Elias, "Greensleeves" by John Coltrane, "Those Soulful Jingle Bells" by Mark Whitfield, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by Bill Evans, "Silver Bells" by Kevin Eubanks, "Swingle Jingle" by Lionel Hampton, and a previously unreleased track – "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" by Oscar Peterson. CD

Blazing R&B, slightly more simmering soul, and some rollicking wildcard tunes that split the difference – all on this fantastic second volume in the R&B Singles series from Outta Sight! It's a great collection, culled mostly from the fertile early 60s period when the sound was still strongly rooted in mid-to-late 50s rhythm & blues, yet beginning to lay the groundwork for gritty southern soul and tighter Northern Soul sounds to come. A nice mix of legendary names and lesser known stars alike, with 30 great tracks in all: "Feelin' Kind A Lonesome" by Willie J Charles with Lionel Hampton, the eternally amazing "Cry To Me" by Solomon Burke", "Earthquake" by Roy Hamilton, "Come On Baby" by Marie Knight, "The Snake" by Oscar Brown Jr, "How Many More Times" by HB Barnum, "Shake It Up And Go" by John Lee Hooker, "A Three Dollar Bill" by Beverly Ann Gibson, "I See Your Face" by Joe Simon, "Betty Mae" by Rodger Green and more. CD