Fantastic jazz drummer and percussionist, Chico Hamilton was born Foreststorn Hamilton in September 20th, 1921 in Los Angeles.
He played in many great jazz bands, such as the Count Basie Orchestra, Charlie Barnet or Lionel Hampton (see the list below). He also played lots of sessions for the Paramount studios, as well as playing (and composing) many soundtracks.
Chico Hamilton appears in the movies You´ll never get rich (1941) and Road to ball.
Chico passed away on November 26th, 2013 in Manhattan, New York. He was 92.
I haven´t enough info to list all the band lineups he has commanded for 40 years, so I just include the info I know. Any help with additional info would be very welcomed.
GERRY MULLIGAN GROUP
Around 1952, Gerry Mulligan assembled this fantastic group:
This was the Gerry Mulligan Quartet in November and December 1954:
GERRY MULLIGAN GROUP #? |
1952 |
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Gerry Mulligan † sax | Bob Whitlock bass | Chet Baker † trumpet | Chico Hamilton † drums |
This was the Gerry Mulligan Quartet in November and December 1954:
GERRY MULLIGAN GROUP #? |
1954 |
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Gerry Mulligan † sax | Red Mitchell † bass | Jon Eardley trumpet | Chico Hamilton † drums |
CHICO HAMILTON GROUP
This was the original Chico Hamilton Quintet, formed in 1955:
This was the second Chico Hamilton Quintet still in 1955, now with Carson Smith on bass:
Chico Hamilton also played as a trio, probably around 1956:
This was the Chico Hamilton Quintet that performed at Newport Jazz Festival in July 1958:
This was an incarnation of the Chico Hamilton Quartet, but don´t know the period:
This was the Chico Hamilton Quintet around July 1973:
In 1975, Chico Hamilton formed a new band, called Players, with these musicians:
This was the Chico Hamilton Quintet in July 1980:
In 1987, Chico Hamilton formed another combo, called Euphoria:
This was the Chico Hamilton Quintet around July 1989, featuring most of their original members:
This was the Chico Hamilton Trio in 1994:
This was the Chico Hamilton Quartet still in 1994, with Eric Person added on sax:
This was Chico Hamilton band Euphoria in 2013:
   BANDS AND SELECTED RECORDINGS:
   SOME SESSIONS:
CHICO HAMILTON GROUP #1 |
1955 |
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Chico Hamilton † drums | Jim Hall † guitar | Jim Aton bass | Buddy Collette † flute | Fred Katz † cello |
This was the second Chico Hamilton Quintet still in 1955, now with Carson Smith on bass:
CHICO HAMILTON GROUP #2 |
1955 |
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Chico Hamilton † drums | Jim Hall † guitar | Carson Smith bass | Buddy Collette † flute | Fred Katz † cello |
Chico Hamilton also played as a trio, probably around 1956:
CHICO HAMILTON GROUP #? |
? |
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Chico Hamilton † drums | Howard Roberts † guitar | George Duvivier bass |
This was the Chico Hamilton Quintet that performed at Newport Jazz Festival in July 1958:
CHICO HAMILTON GROUP #? |
1958 |
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Chico Hamilton † drums | John Pisano guitar | Hal Gaylor bass | Eric Dolphy † clarinet, flute | Nathan Gershman cello |
This was an incarnation of the Chico Hamilton Quartet, but don´t know the period:
CHICO HAMILTON GROUP #? |
? |
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Chico Hamilton † drums | Curtis Counce bass | Hampton Hawes † keyboards | Wardell Gray † sax |
This was the Chico Hamilton Quintet around July 1973:
CHICO HAMILTON GROUP #? |
1973 |
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Chico Hamilton † drums | Barry Finnerty guitar | Mike Richmond bass | Alex Foster sax | Arnie Lawrence † sax |
In 1975, Chico Hamilton formed a new band, called Players, with these musicians:
CHICO HAMILTON GROUP #? |
1975 |
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Chico Hamilton † drums | Barry Finnerty guitar | Arthur Blythe sax | Steve Turre trombone | Abdullah |
This was the Chico Hamilton Quintet in July 1980:
CHICO HAMILTON GROUP #? |
1980 |
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Chico Hamilton † drums | Kathy Adair vocals | Jean-Paul Bourelly guitar | Michael Santiago guitar | Paul Ramsey bass | George King Jr sax |
In 1987, Chico Hamilton formed another combo, called Euphoria:
CHICO HAMILTON GROUP #? |
1987 |
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Chico Hamilton † drums | Cary DeNigris guitar | Reggie Washington bass | Eric Person sax |
This was the Chico Hamilton Quintet around July 1989, featuring most of their original members:
CHICO HAMILTON GROUP #? |
1989 |
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Chico Hamilton † drums | John Pisano guitar | Carson Smith bass | Buddy Collette † flute | Fred Katz † cello |
This was the Chico Hamilton Trio in 1994:
CHICO HAMILTON GROUP #? |
1994 |
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Chico Hamilton † drums | Cary DeNigris guitar | Matt Garrison bass |
This was the Chico Hamilton Quartet still in 1994, with Eric Person added on sax:
CHICO HAMILTON GROUP #? |
1994 |
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Chico Hamilton † drums | Cary DeNigris guitar | Matt Garrison bass | Eric Person sax |
This was Chico Hamilton band Euphoria in 2013:
CHICO HAMILTON GROUP #? |
2013 |
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Chico Hamilton † drums | Nick Demopolous guitar | Paul Ramsey bass | Mayu Saeki flute | Evan Schwam flute, sax | Jeremy Carlstedt drums, percussion |
   BANDS AND SELECTED RECORDINGS:
BAND / ARTIST | . | RECORDINGS | ||||||||
Charlie Barnet Group |   |  
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Count Basie Orchestra |   |  
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Chico Hamilton Group |   | 59 RECORDINGS:
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Lionel Hampton Group |   |  
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Billie Holiday Group |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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Lena Horne Group |   |  
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Gerry Mulligan Group |   | 4 RECORDINGS:
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Jimmy Mundy Group |   |  
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Floyd Ray Group |   |  
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Gerald Wiggins Group |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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Lester Young Group |   |  
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   SOME SESSIONS:
BAND / ARTIST | . | RECORDINGS | ||||||||
Chet Baker Group |   | 1 COMPILATIONS:
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Tony Bennett Group |   | 1 COMPILATIONS:
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Little Caesar Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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Buddy Collette Orchestra |   | 2 RECORDINGS:
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Eric Dolphy Group |   | 1 COMPILATIONS:
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Tal Farlow Group |   | 2 RECORDINGS:
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Frances Faye Group |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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Stan Getz Group |   | 1 COMPILATIONS:
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Corky Hale |   | 2 RECORDINGS:
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Andrew Hill Group |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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Helen Humes Group |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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Albert King Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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John Lewis Big Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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Ken Nordine Group |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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Johnny Scott Group |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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Gabor Szabo Group |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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Cal Tjader Group |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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VVAA |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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Kitty White Group |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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Pinky Winters |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
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RELATED WEBSITE LINKS: 1
Official site(s) - tell them you saw the link here:
THANKS:
Thanks to:
RELATED MUSICIANS:
Chico Hamilton mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
Fred Katz (16)
Carson Smith (15)
Cary DeNigris (14)
George Bohanon (12)
John Pisano (12)
Jim Hall (11)
Gabor Szabo (11)
Paul Horn (10)
Charles Lloyd (10)
Albert Stinson (10)
Page created by Miguel Terol on: 27/November/2013 - Last modified on: 17/December/2013. If you want to contribute with info, please write to: molympus1@gmail.com
Please, note than you can check the indexes (musicians, bands, obituaries) at the top of this page.