JEFF HAMILTON — Jeff Hamilton Trio : Hamilton House Live at Steamer's (review)

JEFF HAMILTON — Jeff Hamilton Trio : Hamilton House Live at Steamer's album cover Live album · 1999 · Hard Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
js
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.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

6 Eclectic Fusion
KROKOFANT
Buy this album from MMA partners
Spring In Stockholm Live At Konserthuset, 1959 Cool Jazz
GERRY MULLIGAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple vol.3 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple, Vol.1 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikołaj Trzaska / Ingebrigt Håker Flaten / Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple Vol.2 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

FASCINATING RHYTHM - The Amazing Keystone Big Band feat. Neima Naouri
THE AMAZING KEYSTONE BIG BAND
snobb· 1 day ago
Alicante
RENAUD GARCIA-FONS
js· 1 day ago
She's Forty with Me
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Tall Tillie's Too Tight
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Rhoda Scott Ladies and Gentlemen - special guest : David Linx
RHODA SCOTT
snobb· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed