Personnel:

Ray Copeland (tp), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Lucky Thompson (ts), Lionel Hampton (vib, marimba, p), Oscar Dennard (p), Oscar Pettiford (b), Gus Johnson (d)

This CD compiles for the first time all the tracks recorded by this Lionel Hamptons All-Star group in 1956. Originally produced by Jazztone Records, most of them appeared on a 12" LP (JZ-1238); the rest were released on a 10" (J-1040), and on a 7" EP (J-723). You will not only hear Hampton lead this group with his extraordinary dynamism and energy as a leader, and his phenomenal improvisational capacity as an instrumentalist (vibes, piano, marimba), but also shines in his role as a jazz composer of great feeling.

Hampton is surrounded here by some established jazz masters such as tenor saxophonist Lucky Thompson, bassist Oscar Pettiford, trombonist Jimmy Cleveland, drummer Gus Johnson, and by two then-newcomers to the scene: pianist Oscar Dennard, and trumpeter Ray Copeland. The music is full of rhythmic and blowing excitement thanks to the talents of the jazzmen involved, and comes close to stomping in several places.

TRACKLIST:

CD 1

01. Romeo's Gone Now (Lionel Hampton) 6:25

02. Over The Rainbow (Arlen-Mercer) 11:44

03. Dark Eyes (Traditional) 4:59

04. Time For Lyons (Gerry Mulligan) 6:25

05. Raindeer (Lionel Hampton) 8:04

06. Summertime (Gershwin-Heyman) 2:45

07. Too Much (Lionel Hampton) 5:01

08. What's Your Hurry (Lionel Hampton) 3:52

CD 2

01. When You're Smiling (Shay-Fisher-Goodwin) 6:55

02. A Ghost Of A Chance (Young-Crosby-Washington) 6:24

03. Loch Lomond (Traditional) 5:58

04. Look! Four Hands (Lionel Hampton) 3:42

05. Undecided (Shavers-Robin) 7:05

06. My Man (Pollock-Ivain-Willemetz-Charles) 6:29

07. Deep Purple (Peter De Rose) 4:26

08. Take The 'A' Train (Duke Ellington) 4:21

09. Lionel Choo-Choo (Lionel Hampton) 2:58

Sources:

CD 1, tracks #2,4,5,6,8 & CD 2, tracks #1,3,4 from the 12-inch Jazztone LP "The Fabulous Lionel Hampton and His All-Stars" (JZ-1238)

CD 1, tracks #2,5,6,7,8 & CD 2, track #7 from the 10-inch Jazztone LP " Besuch Auf Einem Wolkenkratzer" (J-1040)

CD 1, tracks #1,3 & CD 2, track #9 from the 7-inch Jazztone EP "The Fabulous Lionel Hampton" (J-723)

Personnel:

Ray Copeland (trumpet), Jimmy Cleveland (trombone), Lucky Thompson (tenor sax), Lionel Hampton (vibes, marimba on CD 1 #4, piano on CD 2 #4), Oscar Dennard (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Gus Johnson (drums).

Recorded in New York City, in the Summer of 1956

This compilation produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol