Jimmy Hamilton
A longtime member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Jimmy Hamilton's cool vibrato-less tone and advanced style (which was ultimately influenced by bop) initially bothered some listeners more accustomed to Barney Bigard's warmer New Orleans sound, but Hamilton eventually won them over with his brilliant playing. As opposed to how he sounded on clarinet, Hamilton's occasional tenor playing was gutsy and emotional. Prior to joining Ellington, he had worked with Lucky Millinder, Jimmy Mundy, and most noticeably Teddy Wilson's sextet (1940-1942) and Eddie Heywood; Hamilton also recorded with Billie Holiday. He was with Ellington for 25 years (1943-1968), and was well-featured on clarinet on "Air Conditioned Jungle," "Ad Lib on Nippon," and a countless number of other pieces. After leaving Ellington, Hamilton moved to the Virgin Islands, where he taught music in public schools. He did return to the U.S. to play with Clarinet Summit in 1981 and 1985, and gigged a bit in New York during 1989-1990, but was otherwise little heard from in his later years. Jimmy Hamilton only had a few opportunities to record as a leader, mostly dates for Urania (1954), Everest (1960), Swingville (two in 1961), and a 1985 set for Who's Who.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
Discography
6 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Rediscovered - Live at the Bucaneer (Live)
Jazz - Released by Westmill on Oct 17, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Can't Help Swingin' (Reissue)
Jazz - Released by Prestige on Jan 1, 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Swing low, sweet clarinet
Jimmy Hamilton, Jimmy Hamilton Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Fresh Sound Records on Aug 2, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rediscovered at The Buccaneer 1985 (Live)
Jazz - Released by Good Time Records on Sep 24, 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tribute to Barney Bigard and Russell Procope
Jimmy Hamilton, Clarinet Lament
Jazz - Released by Squatty Roo Records on Nov 18, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo