Jeff Hamilton

[XNavyDrummer]

I just saw Jeff Hamilton's trio last Friday at Steamers in Fullerton, California.

Though words will be entirely inadequate to describe what I saw, I'll just make a few comments.

First off, I was glued to the stage for the three sets from 8:30 PM to about 1 AM. I can't remember the last time that I've seen such creativity coming from any live band. Jeff was brilliant. He did things that had me (and the other drummers in the audience) busting out laughing. Nothing he did was ever boring. There were a lot of really creative approaches to the groove and creative ways of getting the sound out of the instrument.

He played on a Remo Acousticon jazz kit with an 18" kick. The heads were Remo Fiberskin 3Ds that sounded amazing! His kick actually sounded huge with a fantastic bottom end. His toms had great projection. Perfect sounding heads with sticks and brushes. His Bosphorus cymbals blended perfectly with the drum sounds.

If you get the chance, definitely check out this group. Jeff's site is:

www.hamiltonjazz.com

[got_a_matchgrip]

Jeff is fantastic.

Back in the early-to mid 80's, my drumset teacher [a great jazz drummer named David Hardman] told me to check out two guys for jazz: JH w the LA4, AWA this up-n-coming cat named Joey Baron... [img]wink.gif[/img]

Those are the guys I listen to today for SA-jazz; & also of course Elvin, Philly; Tain, B Stewart, J-Deej, Ersko, Ari, J Ballard, etc...oh, & Will Kennedy, & Weckl AW [even they are considered more of the contempo-fusion jazz veign; but they're fantastic AW]...

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 25, 2005 04:17 PM: Message edited by: got_a_matchgrip? ]</font>

[likedachuch]

andy,

that's great! email me whenever you go to steamers. that place is like only 5 minutes from my house.

[Pocketime]

Yes, I really love Jeffs' brush work. He is one of the most melodic drummers that I have ever heard. A must see performance. PT.

[drumgod1]

I got a chance to see his trio in a small coffee shop in Lawrence, KS, a few years ago. I sat right next to his floor tom...and was floored!! [img]tongue.gif[/img] He's a great player and a really nice guy!!!!

Mike