Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
An Interesting Ensemble, June 18, 2005
This is one of the few currently in-print Chico Hamilton CDs. Hamilton led a series of groups on during the 50s and 60s -- first, a "chamber jazz" quintet that featured a cello player and no piano (Eric Dolphy got his start with this combo on The Original Ellington Suite, and an earlier lineup featured Jim Hall and Buddy Collette); then, once saxophonist Charles Lloyd joined the group and became its musical director, the group moved toward from their 3rd-Streamish format to a more dynamic, straight-ahead post-bop sound. Lloyd's partners on the front line were the unique guitarist Gabor Szabo and (on some albums) trombonist George Bohannon. It's probably the trombone, but the group's sound reminds me a little of the 60s Jazz Messengers; at other times it evokes the more radical sound of Ornette Coleman's late 50s quartet.
Lloyd's compositions for this group were generally interesting and distinctive, and four of the ones here appear on later Lloyd albums. As far as his tenor saxophone goes, I actually tend to prefer his work with Chico and (a littler later) Cannonball Adderley to that with his famous 60s quartet. Whereas on the albums with Jarrett and DeJohnette he sometimes loses focus and noodles too much, his playing here is intense and focused. As far as the other musicians, I'm not a huge trombone fan and don't think Bohannon's solos are especially interesting. Gabor Szabo plays better elsewhere. Albert Stinson is a very underrated bassist, though I think he's better recorded elsewhere.
"Sun Yen Sen" (which appears on the Lloyd ECM album Hyperion with Higgins under the title "Secret Life of the Forbidden City") and "The Vulture" are hard-bop tunes. "Voice in the Night" is one of Lloyd's finest ballads, appearing on the 60s album Soundtrack and the 90s album Voice in the Night. It's a nice performance, more focused than the Soundtrack version but more superficial than the one recorded in the 90s. "Island Blues" is a catchy tune that Lloyd recorded both later in the 60s and in the 90s; here the group just does a short 2 minute version without any improvisation. "A Different Journey" is another memorable melody and performance, one of the best on the album; this time, Charles plays flute. The centerpiece of the album is an unusual composition, "One Sheridan Square" is the most unusual tune here. The melody is long and complex, running through a few moods; each of the four musicians besides Chico improvises at length, first over a brisk post-bop swing and then over a free-ish ballad section. Bohannon and Szabo's solos are alright, but Lloyd's 5 minute improvisation is intense and exciting, at points evoking "Chasin' the Trane". Definitely the highlight of the album.
Overall I don't think this album is essential (3.5 stars might be closer to the mark), but it is interesting and I think Charles Lloyd fans will want to pick it up. I would get the superior Man from Two Worlds (Impulse!) first, then pick up A Different Journey if you want some more.
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6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Differen't Jazz Journey!!!!!!!!!!, May 17, 2004
It is hard to find any of Chico Hamilton's work on cd. Occasionally, you'll see Ellington Suite, Thoughts Of, and this cd on shelves at Borders or Barnes and Noble. The best place to find Hamilton albums is at old record shops. You might find a copy of With Strings Attached or Gongs East, even that might not be rewarding. The absolute best place to find Hamilton's works would be on E-Bay, or this website here. Hamilton was a unique drummer; a fact that made me turn away from him at first, hearing my first ever Hamilton record, Spectacular!, but then I got to appreciate it more. He didn't just bang out the drums, but he had respect for them and brought them out in a more creative/colorful way. He's similar to drummer Connie Kay, but Chico plays a little louder and does solo from time to time. Perhaps Hamilton's most available stuff is his later works, rather than his early Quintet work with Eric Dolphy, Jim Hall, and Wyatt Rudther. I prefer his works with the Eric Dolphy Quintet, but this album done in the "Charles Loyd" period of recording is great.
Other later albums that are good, in my opinion are Transaction, and Jazzwest. At my surprise, after seeing no Hamilton cds on the shelf at Borders, week to week, was this album. A Differen't Journey. I immediatly bought it. Over all, the music was stunning and differen't. A special note for drummers: Hamilton never uses the jazz ride pattern in his right hand. The music does get alittle tiresome after a while of not really paying attention to the music, but, the music is really great. All the compostions are great, and show Loyed's talent as a writer.
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