Biography

Drummer Chico Hamilton's reputation is built on his skills as a band-leader and one-man finishing school for promising young players. Eric Dolphy, Charles Lloyd, and Larry Coryell all logged early time in different incarnations of Chico's band in the 1950s and '60s. Along with his focus on melodic development from behind the trap set, Hamilton has consistently refused to stay stuck in the cool-jazz style of his youth.

Top Tracks

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• 11 Bars For Arthur

• 6/8 For Ch

• A Trip

• A Little After Twelve

• Ain't She Sweet

• Alive

• Angel Eyes

• Autumn In New York

• Believe In Him

• Beyond The Blue Horizon

• C&c

• Cary

• Cheeks' Groove

• Christina

• Delightful, Charming & Cool

• Don't Be That Way

• Everything But You

• First Light

• For Mods Only

• Forest Flower: Sunrise/sunset

• Foreststorn

• Gongs East

• I Gave My Love A Cherry

• In A Sentimental Mood

• Jeffrey Andrew Caddick

• Mallet Dance

• Miss Ann

• Miss Movement

• Monday Monday

• Mother Tucker

• Mysterious Maiden

• Nomad

• Passion Flower

• Poinciana

• She's Funny That Way

• Something Sweet, Something Tender

• Something To Live For

• Sorta New

• Springtime

• Stella By Starlight

• The Dealer

• The Kids Are Alright

• The Shadow Of Your Smile

• Thoughts Of Miles (freddie Freeloader)

• What's Your Story, Morning Glory?

• Where I Live

Discography

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• Twelve Tones of Love

  Joyous Shout!

  2009

• Trio! Live @ Artpark

  Joyous Shout!

  2008

• It's About Time!

  Joyous Shout!

  2008

• Hamiltonia

  Joyous Shout!

  2007

• With Strings Attached

  Collectables

  2007

• Thoughts Of...

  Koch Records

  2002

• Foreststorn

  Koch Jazz / Koch Records

  2001

• The Original Ellington Suite

  Pacific Jazz / Blue Note

  2000

• Timely

  All Points Jazz

  1999

• Dancing to a Different Drummer

  Soul Note (Italy)

  1993

• My Panamanian Friend

  Soul Note (Italy)

  1992

• Trio!

  Soul Note (Italy)

  1992

• Arroyo

  Soul Note (Italy)

  1990

• Euphoria

  Swallow Records

  1988

• Chico Hamilton and the Players

  Blue Note

  1976

• Peregrinations

  Blue Note

  1975

• Montreux Festival

  Stax

  1973

• The Master

  Stax

  1973

• El Exigente

  Flying Dutchman

  1970

• The Head Hunters

  1969

• The Gamut

  Solid State

  1967

• The Further Adventures of El Chico

  Impulse!

  1966

• Chic Chic Chico

  1965

• El Chico

  Impulse!

  1965

• Man from Two Worlds

  GRP

  1963

• Passin' Thru

  Impulse!

  1963

• Drumfusion

  1962

• Transfusion

  VSOP / Studio West

  1962

• The Chico Hamilton Special

  1961

• Selections from Irma La Douche and Bye Bye Birdie

  Columbia

  1961

• Selections from "Bye Bye Birdie"

  Columbia

  1961

• That Hamilton Man

  Sesac

  1959

• Three Faces of Chico

  Warner Bros.

  1959

• Ellington Suite

  1959

• Compilation

  Pacific Jazz

  1958

• South Pacific in Hi-Fi

  World Pacific

  1958

• Introducing Freddy Gambrell

  World Pacific

  1958

• Chico Hamilton Quintet

  EMI Music Distribution

  1957

• Chico Hamilton Trio

  1957

• Motion Picture "The Sweet Smell of Success"

  1957

• Zen: The Music of Fred Katz

  Pacific Jazz

  1956

• With Paul Horn

  Crown

  1956

• Spectacular

  Pacific Jazz

  1955

• With Gerry Mulligan

  Fantasy

  1952