Foreststorn "Chico" Hamilton/NEA Jazz Master 2004

July 5, 2004
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Further Adventures of El-Chico
 
Joyous Shout! is pleased to announce that Legendary Jazz Drummer and Bandleader Foreststorn "Chico" Hamilton will be performing a solo set on Wednesday July 14th at the Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16^th Street, NYC Tel. 212.294.8301 with one set at 7:30 PM. This set will be a mix of solo drum performances, reminiscences from Chico, excerpts from the films Sweet Smell of Success, Jazz on A Summer's Day & Repulsion, and a Q & A session.

 

In the past few weeks Chico has performed a solo set at The White House (see pics above) as part of the NEA's celebration of June as Black Music Month highlighting the renewed energy being put behind the Jazz Master Fellowship program, and performed as Artist in Residence at the Tri-C Jazz Fest Summer Jazz Camp in Cleveland, OH as part of the Jazz Masters Touring Initiative.

 

 Chico was awarded a NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for 2004 at the IAJE Convention in NYC this past January. The Jazz Masters Fellowship is awarded by the NEA to recognize distinguished Jazz artists who have made a significant contribution to the art form. In 2002 Chico was awarded the WLIU-FM Radio Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 1997 Chico received the Beacons in Jazz Award from the New School University Jazz & Contemporary Music Program in recognition for his "significant contribution to the evolution of Jazz." 
 
Spring of 2003 saw Chico recovered from open heart surgery and hitting the road with BLAZING sets at the Richard Stockton College, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (receiving a standing ovation when he walked on stage at the Jazz Tent), the Berkshire Jazz Festival, two days on the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle, and a show on Jazz at Drew in LA with Special Guests Arthur Blythe, George Bohanon and Bill Henderson!!
 
Chico has also recently put the finishing touches on his new album Juniflip featuring his current "Euphoria" group and augmenting the quintet on five cuts are former Hamilton band-members George Bohanon on trombone and Jimmy Cheatham on bass trombone. Juniflip also features the wonderful vocalist Bill Henderson on two cuts, and a VERY special guest spot from Arthur Lee of the band Love!! Juniflip will be released this coming Fall with the details of Chico's signing to a new label soon to be announced!!
 
Also soon to be announced is news on the worldwide release of Soulfeast Presents the Chico Hamilton Remix Project feat. remixes from Soulfeast (Joe Claussell & Brian Bacchus), MKL vs. Soy Sos, DJ Smash and Still Phil, plus news on the first public hearing of the track Kerry's Caravan from Mudd Feat. Chico Hamilton, a moody yet stunning slice of modern music and a molten melting pot ready made for filling the dance floor!! Mudd, a.k.a. the UK's own Paul N. Murphy, is best known as a member of the London based Afro-Dance ensemble Akwaaba, whose single Just Pilau was turned into an anthem at NYC's Body & Soul by Francois Kevorkian.
 
Stay tuned for more details on upcoming Chico Hamilton news: at the end of July Chico will be performing as Artist in Residence at the Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp in New Orleans, LA; in August Chico will be appearing on the 50th Anniversary Edition of the Newport Jazz Festival; in September Chico will be appearing on the Detroit Ford International Jazz Festival and on the "Jazz Presents" performance series at The New School in NYC; in October Chico will be performing on another Jazz Masters Touring Initiative event being presented by WBGO-FM Radio in Newark, NJ; in November Chico will be appearing on the Wooster Jazz Series in Danbury, CT; and more info on the new Juniflip album with sounds which will show why Foreststorn "Chico" Hamilton's "Still THE Man" for EACH & EVERY GENERATION!!
 
Chico Hamilton is booked worldwide thru:
ConcertedEfforts.com
(chris@concertedefforts.com,
Tel. 617.969.0810).
 
Joyous Shout! is also pleased to announce that Donald Elfman (delfman@optonline.net, Tel. 631.261.3295) has joined us in the effort to raise Chico's performance, promotional, and publicity profiles!!
 
Thanks.
 
Peace.
 
Keep the Faith.
 
Jeffrey

Buy Chico's FORESTSTORN CD online Buy Chico's THOUGHTS OF... CD online Visit the Joyous Shout! website at joyousshout.com View the "Still THE Man" E-card