Alive and Jumping (With Milt Buckner and The All Stars)

Description

Reissue of the 1978 album by vibraphonist/bandleader Lionel Hampton alongside pianist Milt Buckner. Recorded live in concert in 1977. It may be about taking an old warhorse like Avalon and turning it into a thoroughbred, with Cat Anderson's thrilling, piercing trumpet announcing the race. Or it could be Hamp's classic Midnight Sun with its mysterious vibraphone prelude. One thing is certain: "Alive and Jumping" is a live jazz festival. It is also a master class in swing, as Milt Buckner's cascading chromatic sequences on the 1944 hit Hamp's Boogie Woogie excite the crowd, and the song's call-and-response choruses reveal the roots of rock 'n' roll. On Funky Mama, Eddie Chamblee's searing, rock-infused saxophone solo along with Cat Anderson's muted wa-wa growls and high-note antics bring the house down. A must-have for all Lionel Hampton fans! This is one of Milt Buckner's last recordings, as he sadly passed away two months later. Lionel Hampton: Vibraphone Milt Buckner: Piano Cat Anderson: Trumpet Eddie Chamblee: Tenor saxophone Paul Moen: Alto saxophone Frankie Dunlop: Drums Barry Smith: Bass Billy Mackel: Guitar