JJoin
jazz drummer and bandleader and NEA Jazz Master
Foreststorn "Chico" Hamilton as he HITS with
four breathtakingly remarkable new releases
on Joyous Shout! in 2006 in celebration
of his 85th birthday.
Hot on the heals of "Juniflip", Chico swings
with GUSTO and VERVE on "Believe". Up
front and center is a special guest appearance from
legendary vocalist and R & B diva Fontella
Bass on three tracks including: "Love Me A
Long, Long Time" (a hit for the original Gerald
Wilson band in the 40’s!!); "Baby Won’t
You Please Come Home" out of the Lunceford songbook;
and "Believe In Him", a Hamilton penned
spiritual. Reprising his special guest appearance on "Juniflip" former Hamilton band
member trombonist George Bohanon augments Chico’s working "Euphoria" group
on six tracks including: the New Orelans swagger of "Evan’s-ville";
the chamber-like opening (reminiscent of Chico’s group
of the 50’s) of another swinger on "My Brother
Don"; the Oliver Nelson hued "Bones,
No Meat"; the gentle bossa-lilt of "My Brother Bernie";
the rollicking "Andrewmatic"; and on a swinging arrangement
by Cary DeNigris of The Who’s "The
Kids Are Alright". A slight touch near the end of "Juniflip", was
the addition of percussionist Jeremy Carlstedt to Chico’s "Euphoria" mix,
and with "Believe" Jeremy’s percussion
permeates each track. Each of the other "Euphoria" band
members stamps his unique and distinct voice to the
different journey that is "Believe": whether
it’s tenor saxist Evan Schwam blowing Illinois
Jacquet-ish on P.O.D.’s
post-9/11 anthem "Alive"; bassist Paul Ramsey waxing
poetic on his latina flavored "Christina"; guitarist Cary
DeNigris brings us a tour de force on Chico’s "Arroyo" with
it’s Spanish feel; or baritone saxist Andrew
Hadro blowing for his life on "Andrewmatic". Always HIP and ever the consummate MODERNIST, Chico invites
the listener along on another SINGULAR, SINGING and SWINGING adventure
on "Believe", illustrating
why Foreststorn "Chico" Hamilton is
a NEA JAZZ MASTER and Still
THE Man for EVERY
GENERATION!!