Lionel Hampton

Lionel Hampton's huge contribution to jazz can scarcely be measured. As a band leader he was responsible for some of the era's most treasured recordings and his band helped launch the careers of many future stars.

While he first excelled on the drums, it was the vibraphone that will forever be associated with Lionel Hampton. He first played it with Louis Armstrong, when neither he nor Louis really knew exactly what the instrument was. Lionel's vibraphone playing defines the essence of Swing, and his enthusiasm on stage was hard to match.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1913, he took drum lessons from a Franciscan nun and found his first important jazz experience with the Les Hite band in 1930. The Hite group was chosen to back up Louis Armstrong on his California tour and the recording of "Memories of You" with Satchmo in 1930 started his career as a vibraphonist. Lionel went on to greater fame with The Benny Goodman Big Band and Quartet and his own dynamic ensemble. Virtually all of the major soloists in jazz played with "Hamp" and he continued to record and perform until his passing in September 2002, despite suffering a number strokes that would have felled any other mortal man.

Lionel Hampton called almost everyone "Gates" and he was known by the same nickname, thus The Gates of Swing.

After some introductory statements by each horn player I wrote what felt like a vibes lick in the piano part. You may recognize the counter melody in the trombone and tenor sax as Lionel's famous tune, "Flying Home". Some group improvising later in the tune tries to recreate some of the semi controlled chaos that his bands were famous for creating. Although he was not known for providing "generous" sideman pay, a number of the musicians on this session played with Lionel. I especially enjoy Keter's solo in this cut.