JIMMY HAMILTON
Can't Help Swingin' (Prestige)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

---

This Prestige release reissues a pair of albums recorded by Jimmy Hamilton, a longtime mainstay of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, with smaller ensembles in the spring of 1961. Hamilton, best know for his clarinet work with Ellington, gets a broader opportunity to show his prowess on tenor saxophone, which was only occasionally his instrument in the Orchestra. The original releases were It's About Time, represented by the first six tracks here, and Can't Help Swingin', which fills out the remainder of the 14 cuts on this twofer.

For the first six, Hamilton is joined by fellow Ellingtonians Clark Terry (trumpet, flugelhorn), Britt Woodman (trombone) and Wendell Marshall (bass). The rhythm section is filled out by pianist Tommy Flanagan and drummer Mel Lewis. It's a strong, swinging, bluesy session devoted to Hamilton originals. The players obviously enjoyed the chance to relax and shine in a sextet setting as opposed to the big band environment.

For the last eight tracks, recorded a couple of weeks later, the horn players stayed home and Hamilton was able to work in front of a trio that consists of Flanagan, Marshall and drummer Earl Williams, borrowed from Gerry Mulligan's combo for this session. This time, Hamilton mixes his originals equally with standards, pays a bit more attention to the tenor horn, and varies the tempo a bit more.

While the blues abound, this is first and foremost a swing album, the likes of which the players in the "neo-swing" scene should be spending a lot more time listening to. No need for histrionics or costumes here, just solid sounds by solid players. It's a joy from start to finish.

Track List: Mr. Good Blues * Peanut Head * Nits And Wits * Stupid But Not Crazy * Two For One * Gone With The Blues * Definite Difference * Pan Fried * Lullaby Of The Leaves * Baby Won't You Please Come Home * There Is No Greater Love * Dancing On The Ceiling * Route 9W * Town Tavern Rag

© 1999 - Shaun Dale