The Lionel Hampton Quintet

The Lionel Hampton Quintet

Vibraphonist Hampton as ever boasts a struck-bottle tone and watery vibrato, energy to spare, and timing few jazz musicians could equal. He used to bat around small bands like balloons, their performances caught on a string of quality jam-session records stretching back to the 1930s. This 1954 version, originally on two LPs, makes good with a slightly unlikely cast. Clarinet modernist Buddy DeFranco is swept back toward the piping, driving style of swing-era heroes like Hamp's old boss Benny Goodman, without sacrificing his own attractively full but not heavy tone. DeFranco gets plenty of space and soars to the occasion, reminding us what such sessions are good for. As on other studio jams for producer Norman Granz, flashy pianist Oscar Peterson and drummer Buddy Rich are admirably self-effacing, laying down a firm but pliant groove in conjunction with bassist Ray Brown. Hamp's oddball pop-tune quotes help establish an air of good humor the band sustains even on "Paper Moon," which he missed. <I>--Kevin Whitehead</I>