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Jeff Hamilton may not be a household name, but he has a strong reputation in the jazz world where his technically adept and tasteful drumming has landed him jobs with the bands of Count Basie and Woody Herman, as well as the Oscar Peterson trio. In between high profile gigs with the greats, Hamilton often records in a trio setting playing modern mainstream jazz. On “Hamilton House”, Jeff is joined by pianist Larry Fuller and bassist Lynn Seaton for a set of covers and originals performed in a LA jazz club. Fuller is a highly skilled pianist who combines a blues based tonality with a very refined, almost classical touch. If this description has you thinking Oscar Peterson, you couldn’t be more right. Overall this group has a strong connection to the classic Peterson/ Ray Brown (bassist) trios. Not only has Hamilton worked with that group, but after Peterson passed away, Fuller took his place in Ray Brown’s next trio. Despite all this, Hamilton’s group is not a tribute band, but instead charts their own musical path.
This recording takes place at a small jazz club, not a large concert venue, and that more intimate atmosphere has its effect. As is typical in these more personal settings, the band relates to their audience in a playful and humorous way and performs a wide variety of material to keep people engaged and entertained. This is not a terribly serious gig and a few numbers get a little too much on the fluff side; “Hamilton House” is a pretty Scottish folk tune and “See See Rider” is the well worn RnB tune raved up in gratuitous bar band fashion, but I’m sure if you were there for the night, such variety can make the evening more fun.
The best numbers on here include a high speed take on Monk’s “Rhythm-n-ing", on which Fuller turns in his hottest piano solo, and a beautifully restrained ballad rendition of Lennon-McCartney’s “Here There Everywhere”. Another plus with this concert is the recording quality, it really sounds like you are right there in the room with them, everything is crystal clear and well balanced. Overall this is a good CD and recommended for fans of Hamilton and Fuller, as well as fans of the whole Oscar Peterson/Ray Brown legacy.