Early in his career, vibraphonist
Terry Gibbs was encouraged by
Lionel Hampton, who actually asked him to join his band (though
Hamp's wife, Gladys, nixed the deal). Many decades later,
Gibbs pays tribute to
Hampton on this enjoyable set. Using a band of Los Angeles musicians including tenor saxophonist
Pete Christlieb, organist
Joey DeFrancesco, guitarist
Anthony Wilson, and pianist
Mike Melvoin,
Gibbs performs a variety of songs associated with
Hampton, plus four basic originals that the older vibraphonist would have enjoyed jamming.
Gibbs is more boppish than
Hamp, but their styles are not that dissimilar and he was quite familiar with all of the
Hampton standards. The musicians clearly had a fun time, with singer
Barbara Morrison guesting on "Evil Gal Blues,"
Gibbs taking a few rare vocals, the vibist playing some two-fingered piano (like
Hampton) on "Two-Finger Boogie Shuffle," and the band romping on "Flying Home" and "Hey Ba-Ba-Re-Bop." ~ Scott Yanow