For the fourth in his series of 2006 releases -- a pace that hardly anyone maintains anymore in jazz, least of all an 85-year-old --
Chico Hamilton pays a series of tributes to old cohorts, mentors, friends and such with a new batch of originals. The same basic band that backed the previous three releases, Euphoria, is back for this one -- and so is trombonist George Bohanon, a regular on these sessions. With guitarist
Cary DeNigris doing a creditable impression of
Gabor Szabo's gypsy-flavored improvs, "Chicano Heritage" serves as much of a memorial to the late
Hamilton sideman as does "One for Gabor." Other melancholy, three-part "One-Offs" pay their respects to others in
Hamilton's past -- "One for Hale" (Smith), "One for Arnie" (
Lawrence), and "One for Lennie" (Hayton). "Mulligan Stew," obviously, is a sauntering salute to the head of the quartet that helped
Hamilton establish his name and fame. With "Viva Tirado" and "Blues for Yna Yna,"
Hamilton delivers idiosyncratic, smoky tributes to a mentor who was also still very much alive, well and actively performing as of this recording -- fellow octogenarian
Gerald Wilson. On the vocal end, singer Marya Lawrence swings sensually through "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues" and "Love Me or Leave Me " -- and
Hamilton himself sings "Something to Live For" (a most appropriate title for him) with just the accompaniment of
DeNigris. Unlike the previous three albums, there is no progressive closing number, but the point had been amply made in the series already.
Chico Hamilton has plenty left to say, and his ability to say it is undimmed by age. ~ Richard S. Ginell