Little did anyone imagine that it would take a masterly
drummer to pick up the mantle of the late, great Oscar Peterson as a leader of
outstanding piano, bass and drum trios. Still, those with attuned ears will
recognize that Jeff Hamilton has assembled one of the most meticulous and
exciting small ensembles of present day jazz. With the virtuosic pianist Tamir
Hendelman and the redoubtable bassist Christoph Luty working in swinging tandem
alongside him, Hamilton-one of the most acclaimed drummers of the past five
decades-reasserts his role as an invaluable bandleader. Live from San Pedro,
available February 16, 2018 via Capri Records, is proof that the chemistry
between these three equally gifted and assertive players remains unabated 17
years into the group's existence. Nodding to the grand tradition that predates
them, yet eager to put a fresh face on the musical proceedings, the Hamilton
trio stakes its place as a classic ensemble within the hallowed history of
piano trios.
Captured at a single night's performance at the Alvas
Showroom in San Pedro, California, the trio dives deep into an imaginative
repertoire that includes bop standards ("In Walked Bud"), a beloved
ballad ("I Have Dreamed"), reworked show tunes ("Gary,
Indiana"), a classic from the Ahmad Jamal playbook ("Poinciana")
and a host of original tunes from group members and others including John
Clayton and Joe LaBarbera. The set demonstrates the indivisible unity that the
threesome has achieved, as well as the individual virtuosity of each
distinguished trio member. While not overtly resembling the trios of Oscar
Peterson, the Hamilton trio shares the same rigorous adherence to
stop-on-a-dime arrangements, careful dynamics and perfectly framed
improvisations.
While asserting his leadership through his extraordinary
rhythmic control, not to mention his exquisite taste, Hamilton is the opposite
of a grandstanding percussionist. As Geoffrey C. Ward has written, "He's a
musician first and foremost, always eager to serve the music, not to make the
music serve him." One of the great practitioners of the art of brushwork,
Hamilton gets to exhibit his mastery throughout the recording; his feature,
"Brush This," composed by the bassist John Clayton (Hamilton's cohort
in the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra) is a special treat. His equally
renowned stick work is also abundantly on display. With Hamilton navigating the
trio through its paces, and Hendelman and Luty locking in with communal
exactness, the band becomes a well-oiled, yet creatively inspired, swing
machine.
One of the giants of mainstream jazz drumming, Jeff Hamilton
has been heard with the big bands of Woody Herman and Count Basie, and as a
member of the popular L.A. 4, as well as with such icons as Ella Fitzgerald,
Ray Brown, Monty Alexander and Oscar Peterson. In addition to his work with the
Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Hamilton has appeared with Diana Krall both in
performance and on recordings. Live from
San Pedro is his third Capri Records album with the Jeff Hamilton trio.
The Israeli-born Tamir Hendelman has played with such
luminaries as Tierney Sutton, Teddy Edwards and Harry Allen, and is the pianist
for the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Christoph Luty is also a member of the
Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and has worked with Diana Krall, John
Pizzarelli and Milt Jackson, among others.
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