Joyous Shout
2009
Twelve Tones Of Love
About This Album
Of Chico Hamilton's nearly dozen albums in the 2000s, this one is different in that it features a larger ensemble than the others, a septet up to a nonet, a handful of duets, and is chock-full of many new compositions from the drummer's hand that represents a synopsis of his previous seven decades in jazz, updating that history with tributes to his favorite musicians, bandmates, friends, and his wife. Hamilton sings a little, plays the drum kit a lot, and leads this group of new names, the veteran trombonist George Bohanon, and mainstay guitarist Cary DeNigris, who himself is more subdued than on recent recordings. Tenor saxophonist Evan Schwam and alto saxophonist Eddie Barbash both triple on soprano sax and flute, and are very integrated into the modern concept Hamilton has honed for decades, sounding very comfortable with their substantial roles. A master of nuance and mood setting, Hamilton's modus operandi is to play the intro of a tune in free floating time, then bust out with a static rhythm. He's also inclined to offer up multiple rhythm changes in any given composition. For instance, "Happiness Prevails" displays a churning hi-hat rhythm before nosediving into thin air, then hitting up a waltz tempo.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,7,9,12,16 and 17)

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