Friday, November 13, 2009

Now's the Time: The Jeff Hamilton Trio


My first exposure to Jeff Hamilton's drumming came via KCUR's weekly Just Jazz radio program. How I miss hearing Ginny and Ruth! While I didn't exactly share the women's taste in jazz, their banter was absolutely hysterical. And it seemed like every third song they played featured Hamilton on drums. His pure swing style perfectly suited the Just Jazz sensibility. He's also the drummer-of-choice for Diana Krall and Barbra Streisand. Here's hoping that Ginny and Ruth are well enough to catch Hamilton at Jardine's on November 18 and 19.
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7 comments:

  1. Hermon MehariNovember 13, 2009 at 12:59 PM

    The Jeff Hamilton Trio will also be doing a clinic on November 19th at UMKC in the Performing Arts Center (Room 128) from 3-4:30 PM.

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  2. Happy In BagNovember 13, 2009 at 1:04 PM

    Thanks, Hermon.

    I also neglected to include this information from Jim Mair:

    "Drummer Jeff Hamilton and bassist Christoph Luty will work with the KCKCC Jazz Band and Jazz Combo on Wednesday November 18 from 10:00am till noon in the band room at KCKCC. The Jeff Hamilton Trio presented clinics at KCKCC last time they were in Kansas City."

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  3. AnonymousNovember 13, 2009 at 2:20 PM

    Cool.... I like his quoting of Duke's "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" at the start of his solo...

    Peace, Cb

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  4. Happy In BagNovember 13, 2009 at 2:29 PM

    Dang it, Cb, you had to go and ruin it, didn't you! Almost nothing, certainly not Jeff Hamilton, can compare to that Ellington clip.

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  5. the unthinking lemmingNovember 14, 2009 at 6:47 AM

    I saw Hamilton with Krall and John Clayton at the Sunset Grill on State Line as part of the Jazz Ambassadors Concert series. JH performed one of the most amazing drum solos I have ever experienced. I don't remember the tune but his technique was sublime. Starting out loud with sticks shifting softer and softer through a change to brushes and softer and softer until he was simply swishing the brushes in the air. He remains at the top of my list of jazz drummers.

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  6. AnonymousNovember 14, 2009 at 11:11 PM

    And the tune they are playing before Jeff's solo is Blues for Stephanie written by John Clayton.

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  7. the unthinking lemmingNovember 15, 2009 at 2:47 PM

    After some meditation and some cognation... (sips beer) The concert was in the late fall and the tune was Falling Leaves.

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