Quintet

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Lionel Hampton recorded The Quintet in 1954 and its appearance on a separate CD is most welcome, especially if funds do not run to the 5-CD Complete Quartets/Quintets with Oscar Peterson which collects all the vibist's work with Oscar Peterson during that year. Here the two are joined by Ray Brown and Buddy Rich on bass and drums and clarinet virtuoso Buddy De Franco. Rich was not always ideal for Norman Granz's small-group sessions, but he is perfect here, as is the often denigrated De Franco, who constantly impresses both in solo and in his interplay with the leader and Peterson. The ethos of the date is largely extrovert, which is hardly surprising in view of Hampton's legendary exuberance, but there is much subtlety amid the swinging élan--notably on "These Foolish Things", where vibes and clarinet weave separately enchanting melodic variations. Lovely things occur too on "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Je Ne Sais Pas", while if it's uninhibited stomping power you're after, look no further than "Flying Home". Goodness knows how many thousands of times Hampton has played that war-horse over his six-decade career, but this 17-minute reading is as fresh as tomorrow. Indeed, the whole session is a timeless delight that is further enhanced by successful remastering. --Richard Palmer

 

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