Our Lindy 3 and 4 teachers Peter and Julia present us every monday with an Album of the Week, always including some amazing historical context and fun trivia. This made us really enthusiastic about learning more about the culture and the music. So we thought we’d share the love by putting all of them on our website.
This is the Album of the week for the 19th of February. The Complete Victor Lionel Hampton Sessions, Vol. 1
Listen to the album on Spotify
Listen to the album on Youtube
Peter:
“This week’s AOTW celebrates the timeless vibes of Lionel Hampton, a master born in 1908. Hampton’s musical journey began early as a drummer, and after playing with various bands, he founded his own big band while teaching himself the vibraphone. In 1936, at the Paradise Club in Los Angeles, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, and Teddy Wilson (the Benny Goodman Trio) were captivated by Hampton’s vibraphone skills, leading to successful recordings with the Goodman Quartet and propelling Hampton’s prolific career. Our album of the week features some classics recorded during this era, such as “On the Sunny Side of the Street” and “I’m Confessin’ that I Love You.”
While achieving success in small groups, Hampton longed to lead a big band again. Encouraged by Goodman, he formed one in 1941, hitting the charts with hits like “Flyin’ Home.” Hampton’s band became an institution, renowned for its wild performances, and he continued playing well into the 90s.
In a lively gig in Buffalo, the band’s showmanship reached new heights when an alto player walked the tightrope-like stage railing during his solo, creating a sensation.
Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw also hosted a remarkable concert where after Hampton’s solo on the tom-tom, he led the entire band through the dancing audience. Despite the organizer’s attempt to stop the concert, Hampton, unstoppable, sang “Hebaberiba” as the audience enthusiastically responded. Not much later, the police interfered and guided Hampton to his dressing room.
Adding a unique touch to his shows, Hampton incorporated a stuffed barracuda, symbolizing resilience. The band adopted a saying, attributing the vanishing of ugly things to the Barracuda, lightening the mood.
Beyond his musical career, Hampton’s social activism, supported by his wife Gladys, led to affordable housing for over 700 low-income families.
Julia:
“This is a television report from that concert in the Hague (stored in the archive that I work for ;)).”
Thank you very much for sharing this with us Peter and Julia!
