Drummer/bandleader and NEA Jazz Master Chico Hamilton will celebrate his 90th birthday this fall in a way few other nonagenarians ever will, by releasing three new recordings. Hamilton has recorded 28 new tracks that will be divided into a new full-length CD, Revelation, and two EPs, Euphoric and one also titled Revelation. Hamilton-whose birthday is September 20-is accompanied on the recordings by Paul Ramsey on bass, Nick Demopoulos on guitar, Evan Schwam on flute and reeds, Mayu Saeki on flute and Jeremy Carlstedt on drums and percussion.
The 22-track Revelation CD, released on Sept. 27, includes uptempo Latin (“Evanly”), funk (“Black Eyed Peas”), band vocals (“Stompin at the Savoy”), mid-tempo swing (“No Way LA”), and a track described in a press releases as “pastoral melodic beauty” (“You’re Not Alone”).
On September 13, Hamilton will release two EPs. Revelation (on 10″ vinyl) features tracks from the Revelation CD, and pays homage to Hamilton’s first 1955 recording as a leader, Chico Hamilton Trio (also released on 10″ vinyl, on Pacific Jazz with Howard Roberts and George Duvivier). The Euphoric EP serves as Hamilton’s salute to his group of 24 years, Euphoria. The recording features some of the band members’ original compositions.
