Chico Hamilton With Paul Horn (CD)

(Ace) 8 tracks.
Chico Hamilton, a native of Los Angeles, has become one of the most important drummers and band leaders in jazz. He made his name as part of the West Coast Jazz movement with the recordings of his pianoless trios and Quintets for Pacific Jazz in the mid-50s. The recordings with larger line-ups were often distinguished by their unusual front lines that used multi-instrumentalist reed players and the cello playing of Fred Katz. The first four tracks of the Crown album features trios recorded with Jim Hall or Howard Roberts on guitar. The next four titles feature a set of Katz compositions with reed player Paul Horn to the fore.

By Dean Rudland

(acerecords. co. uk)