Lionel Hampton: Flying Home

Read About This Recording

Only a handful of musicians can be said to have introduced their instrument to jazz. In Lionel Hampton's case, he was not the very first jazz vibraphonist but he was the first influential force on the vibes and one of the most colorful performers in jazz history.

Born in 1909, Hampton was originally a drummer based in Chicago before relocating to Los Angeles. In L.A. in the late 1920s, he worked with Curtis Mosby, Reb Spikes, Paul Howard's Quality Serenaders and Les Hite. While with Hite, he appeared on a Louis Armstrong date, playing a little bit of vibes in the background during "Memories of You" and "Shine" in 1930. Despite that historic breakthrough, he was in obscurity in Los Angeles for the next six years, leading his own band before being discovered by Benny Goodman in 1936. Hampton soon became a member of the Benny Goodman Quartet and started leading his own record dates. He stayed with Goodman through 1940 and then headed his own big band which hit it big in 1942 with "Flying Home." Hampton led freewheeling orchestras and starred on combo sessions during the next 60 years until his death in 2002.

Flying Home is a 10-CD set put out by Membran and imported from Europe. The music includes highlights from both Hampton's all-star sessions of 1937-41 and his big band of the 1940s. The final CD is quite unusual for it has 14 straight versions of "Flying Home," not only by Hampton in various settings but by the bands of Charlie Barnet, Les Brown, Illinois Jacquet, Glenn Miller, Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum.

There is lots of great music to be heard during the 97 performances included in this enjoyable boxed set.

—Scott Yanow

Contents

Imported from Europe!

CD 1 (TT: 34:43): It Don't Mean a Thing; Love is Here to Stay; On a Slow Boat to China; Punch and Judy; Memories of You; Prelude to a Kiss; Ribs and Hot Sauce; Singin' the Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home); Beulah's Boogie; Twelfth Street Rag.

CD 2 (TT: 30:29): Pinetop's Boogie Woogie; Ridin' on the L&N; Shoe Shiner's Drag; Tempo's Birthday; Air Mail Special, Parts 1 & 2; China Stomp; Empty Glas (Normania); Blue Because of You; Loose Wig.

CD 3 (TT: 34:09): Drum Stomp (Crazy Rhythm); House of Morgan; Jivin' With Jarvis; Blues for Oliver; High Society; I Didn't Know What Time it Was; I Know That You Know; Merry Christmas Baby; Memories of You.

CD 4 (TT: 35:15): I've Found a New Baby; Muskrat Ramble; Playboy; Red Top; Old Man River; Slide Hamp Slide; Tempo's Birthday; Vibe Boogie; Midnight Sun.

CD 5 (TT: 32:19): A Foggy Day; Beulah's Sister's Boogie; Dinah; Gay Notes; How High the Moon; Jeepers Creepers; My Old Flame; On the Sunny Side of the Street; Blow Top Blues.

CD 6 (TT: 29:37): 64 Bars on Wilshire; Cobb's Idea; Four or Five Times; Hamp's Walking Boogie; It Don't Mean a Thing If it Ain't Got That Swing; Ring Dem Bells; Someday; Airmail Special; On the Sunny Side of the Street.

CD 7 (TT: 31:54): After You've Gone; Boogie Woogie Santa Claus; Doug-Rey-Mi; Satin Doll; Screamin' Boogie; Soft Winds; Speak Low; How Long Has This Been Going On; I Wish You Love.

CD 8 (TT: 33:30): Rockin' in Rhythm, Part 1; Rockin' in Rhythm, Part 2; The Sheik of Araby; You Stepped Out of a Dream; Mr. PC; Playboy; Sweethearts on Parade; Two Finger Boogie; Hamp's Salty Blues; In the Bag.

CD 9 (TT: 31:28): Adam Blew His Hat; Doublin' With Dublin; Hamp's Boogie Woogie; Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop; Ain't Misbehavin'; Hamp's Boogie Woogie, No. 1; Hamp's Boogie Woogie, No. 2; One Sweet Letter From You; Sleepy Time Down South.

CD 10 (TT: 47:12): Flying Home (Benny Goodman Sextett); Flying Home, No. 1 (Lionel Hampton Big Band); Flying Home, No. 2 (Lionel Hampton Big Band); Flying Home (Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra); Flying Home (Les Brown); Flyin' on a V-Disc, Parts 1 & 2 (Flying Home) (Armstrong/Eldridge/Teagarden/Hawkins/Vic Schoen & His Orchestra/Ella Fitzgerald); Flying Home; Flying Home No. 1 (Hampton/Illinois Jacquet); Flying Home No. 2 (Hampton/Cobb); Flying Home, Part 1 (Illinois Jacquet & His All-Stars); Flying Home, Part 2 (Illinois Jacquet & His All-Stars); Flying Home (Glenn Miller Big Band); Flying Home (Oscar Peterson Duo); Flying Home (Art Tatum Trio).