Jimmy Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Hamilton was an American
jazz
clarinet
ist, tenor saxophonist
, arranger, composer
, and music educator, best known for his twenty-five years with Duke Ellington
.
Hamilton was born in Dillon, South Carolina
, and grew up in Philadelphia. Having originally learnt to play piano
and brass instrument
s, in the 1930s he started playing the latter in local bands, before switching to clarinet and saxophone. In 1939 he played with Lucky Millinder
, Jimmy Mundy
, and Bill Doggett
, going on to join the Teddy Wilson
sextet in 1940. After two years with Wilson, he played with Eddie Heywood
and Yank Porter
.
In 1943 he replaced Barney Bigard
in the Duke Ellington orchestra, and stayed with Ellington until 1968. His style was very different on his two instruments: on tenor saxophone he had an R&B sound, while on clarinet he was much more precise and correct, though fluent. He wrote some of his own material in his time with Ellington.
After he left the Ellington orchestra Hamilton played and arranged on a freelance basis, before spending the 1970s and 1980s in the Virgin Islands
teaching music (though he occasionally returned to the U.S. for performances with John Carter
's Clarinet Summit). On his retirement from teaching he continued to perform with his own groups from 1989 to 1990.
Hamilton died in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, at the age of seventy-seven.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
ist, tenor saxophonist
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
, arranger, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, and music educator, best known for his twenty-five years with Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
.
Hamilton was born in Dillon, South Carolina
Dillon, South Carolina
Dillon, South Carolina, the county seat of Dillon County, was established on December 22, 1888. The name of the city came from James W. Dillon, who was a key component in bringing a railroad through this area of the state, which led to development and formation of the County. Dillon’s population...
, and grew up in Philadelphia. Having originally learnt to play piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and brass instrument
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
s, in the 1930s he started playing the latter in local bands, before switching to clarinet and saxophone. In 1939 he played with Lucky Millinder
Lucky Millinder
Lucius Venable "Lucky" Millinder was an American rhythm and blues and swing bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang, his showmanship and musical taste made his bands successful...
, Jimmy Mundy
Jimmy Mundy
Jimmy Mundy was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, arranger, and composer, best known for his arrangements for Benny Goodman, Count Basie and Earl Hines....
, and Bill Doggett
Bill Doggett
Bill Doggett was an American jazz and rhythm and blues pianist and organist. He is best known for his tracks, "Honky Tonk" and "Hippy Dippy", and variously working with The Ink Spots, Johnny Otis, Wynonie Harris, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Jordan.-Biography:William Ballard Doggett was born in...
, going on to join the Teddy Wilson
Teddy Wilson
Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson was an American jazz pianist whose sophisticated and elegant style was featured on the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.-Biography:Wilson was born in Austin, Texas in...
sextet in 1940. After two years with Wilson, he played with Eddie Heywood
Eddie Heywood
Eddie Heywood was a jazz pianist who was popular in the 1940s. His father, Eddie Heyward, Sr. was also a jazz musician from the 1920s. Heywood, Jr...
and Yank Porter
Yank Porter
Yank Allen Porter was an American jazz drummer.Porter moved to New York City in 1926 and played there with Calvin Jackson until 1930. In the 1930s he worked with Charlie Matson , Louis Armstrong , Bud Harris , James P. Johnson , Fats Waller , and Dave Martin...
.
In 1943 he replaced Barney Bigard
Barney Bigard
Albany Leon Bigard, aka Barney Bigard, was an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist, though primarily known for the clarinet....
in the Duke Ellington orchestra, and stayed with Ellington until 1968. His style was very different on his two instruments: on tenor saxophone he had an R&B sound, while on clarinet he was much more precise and correct, though fluent. He wrote some of his own material in his time with Ellington.
After he left the Ellington orchestra Hamilton played and arranged on a freelance basis, before spending the 1970s and 1980s in the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
teaching music (though he occasionally returned to the U.S. for performances with John Carter
John Carter (jazz musician)
John Wallace Carter was an American jazz clarinet, saxophone, and flute player.-Biography:Born in Fort Worth, Texas, he played with Ornette Coleman and Charles Moffett in the 1940s. From 1961, Carter was based mainly on the West Coast. There he met Bobby Bradford in 1965, with whom he...
's Clarinet Summit). On his retirement from teaching he continued to perform with his own groups from 1989 to 1990.
Hamilton died in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, at the age of seventy-seven.
Discography as leader
- 1953: "Big Fifty"/"Rockaway Special" (States RecordsStates RecordsStates Record Company was a Chicago-based record label. A subsidiary of United Records, it was in business from May 1952 to December 1957. States focused on rhythm and blues, jazz, and gospel....
) - 1954: Jimmy Hamilton Orchestra (Jazz Kings)
- 1955: Jimmy Hamilton (Urania)
- 1960: Swing Low Sweet Clarinet (Everest)
- 1961: It's About Time (Swingville)
- 1961: Can't Help Swinging (Prestige)
- 1985: Rediscovered Live at the Buccaneer (Who's Who in Jazz)
- 1991: Jimmy Hamilton & the New York Jazz Quintet (Fresh Sound)
- 1997: Sweet but Hot (Drive Archive)
- 1999: Jazz in July: at the Lafayette Club (Hambone Records)
- 1999: Live at the Bucaneer (Jazz Time)
Sources and external links
- Ian Carr, Digby Fairweather, & Brian Priestley. Jazz: The Rough Guide. ISBN 1-85828-528-3
- Richard Cook & Brian Morton. The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD 6th edition. ISBN 0-14-051521-6
- [ Jimmy Hamilton] — brief biography by Scott Yanow, for AllMusic.