Saturday Afternoon Jazz

I've really been getting back into jazz over the past few months after being mostly soul and blues oriented for about a year now. Maybe it's because it's getting cold again, and I like the chilled out sound. Specifically I have been listening to an album called Just one of Those Things: Lionel Hampton featuring Oscar Peterson.

Oscar Peterson is my personal favorite jazz artist. I just love how he can play the piano in so many different ways. Sometimes he bombards you with note after swinging note, however never feeling overdone. Sometimes he lets the notes hang in the air allowing you to take a deep breath before he hits the next. And often times he provides the smooth and never overpowering backing to other jazz greats. He has an unmistakable style that sets him apart from all other jazz pianists, pushing those he plays with to swing harder, pull the sound out gentler, or just hop in and glide along with him.

Lionel Hampton is one of the world's most renowned vibraphonists (perhaps only after Johnny Lytle or Milt Jackson). His genius comes in the fact that he can turn 4 or 5 keys on the vibraphone into the most stunning solo. He's got rhythm, and he can voice so many things with so few notes in ways that nobody else with mallets can. I love listening to him because I used to play the vibes a little bit, and really appreciate how difficult it is to get the kind of reverbs and sounds he can draw from the instrument.

Here are a few tunes that I'm sure you will enjoy. Not only are they good introductions to jazz and fun to throw on at a classy dinner party, but they showcase two of the all-time greats.

Lionel Hampton and Oscar Peterson - Just One of those Things
This song starts out swinging with Oscar taking the lead. You can even hear his muted grunting and singing right behind his quick keys showing the passion that he has for playing. He then hands the song off to Lionel who begins with his signature 3 note rhythm solo. Breaking out of that, he takes you for a journey up and down the vibraphone that leaves you tapping your foot furiously as you try and keep up with his swing. You'll hear him groaning in the background as well as he just keeps pushing and pushing.

Lionel Hampton and Oscar Peterson - This Can't Be Love
They slow it down here as they play right along with each other. The vibraphone taking the melody, and the piano at first hanging out in back. Soon enough Oscar takes the forefront and showcases that he can not only swing it, but use dynamics to mold a song into his own.

Enjoy!

-Kyle