A pioneering jazz drummer and composer who led his own quintet and created a unique blend of jazz, classical, and world music. He's known for his innovative and eclectic style that influenced many jazz musicians.
Chico Hamilton was an American jazz drummer and bandleader known for his innovative approach to jazz, which blended traditional with modern elements, and his quintet featuring the cello as a lead instrument, an unusual choice for a jazz band in the 1950s. Throughout his career, Hamilton worked with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Lester Young, Gerry Mulligan, Count Basie, and Lena Horne, solidifying his reputation as a master of his craft.
Foreststorn Hamilton was born on September 20, 1921, in Los Angeles, California, one of three brothers, including actor Bernie Hamilton. Hamilton started his career in music at a young age, performing with a band featuring Charles Mingus, Illinois Jacquet, Ernie Royal, Dexter Gordon, Buddy Collette, and Jack Kelso before he had finished high school.
Hamilton's early career was marked by engagements with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Lionel Hampton, Slim Gaillard, T-Bone Walker, Lester Young, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Charlie Barnet, Billy Eckstine, Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., Billie Holiday, Gerry Mulligan, and Lena Horne. He also appeared in the film You'll Never Get Rich in 1941 as part of the backing group supporting Fred Astaire.
In 1955, Hamilton recorded his first album as leader, featuring George Duvivier on double bass and Howard Roberts on guitar for Pacific Jazz. The same year, he formed an unusual quintet in Los Angeles, featuring cello, flutes/saxes/clarinet, guitar, bass, and drums. This quintet, which included flutist/saxophonist/clarinetist Buddy Collette, guitarist Jim Hall, cellist Fred Katz, and bassist Jim Aton, was described as one of the last important West Coast jazz bands.
Hamilton's quintet was featured in the film Sweet Smell of Success in 1957, in which he also had a small speaking role in a scene with Tony Curtis.
Chico Hamilton's contributions to jazz are still felt today, with his innovative approach to the genre influencing generations of musicians. His unique blend of traditional and modern elements helped to shape the course of jazz, and his quintet featuring the cello as a lead instrument remains one of the most iconic and influential jazz ensembles of all time.
Hamilton received a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award in 2004 and was inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame in 2007.
Chico Hamilton passed away on November 25, 2013, at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most innovative and influential jazz drummers and bandleaders of all time.
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