Biography
A versatile and swinging jazz drummer, Jeff Hamilton has earned acclaim both as a sought-after sideman and as a bandleader guiding his own trio as well as the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. He first surfaced in Los Angeles during the 1970s, forging a reputation through big-band work before gaining wider notice as a member of the celebrated Ray Brown Trio across the 1980s and 1990s. Extending the trio model pioneered by Brown, Hamilton formed his own ensemble and maintained a steady output of well-received acoustic jazz recordings, among them the 1994 album It's Hamilton Time, the 2009 release Symbiosis, and the 2017 set Dreamsville. In parallel he shares leadership of his large ensemble with bassist John Clayton and saxophonist Jeff Clayton, delivering polished big-band sessions such as 1999's Explosive! with Milt Jackson and the 2014 Grammy-nominated The L.A. Treasure's Project.
Born in 1953, Hamilton was raised in Richmond, Indiana, where he began drumming at age eight. Early exposure to his parents’ big-band and Oscar Peterson discs gave way in his teenage years to the influence of percussion masters Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Mel Lewis, Philly Joe Jones, and Shelly Manne. After high school he completed a music degree at Indiana University and took private lessons with drummer John Von Ohlen. His first major engagement arrived in 1974 with the New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, followed a year later by a period in Lionel Hampton’s band. He next joined bassist John Clayton in pianist Monty Alexander’s trio, appearing on the 1979 albums Facets and Live! Montreux Alexander. Several years of touring and recording with Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd ensued before he assumed the drum chair vacated by Shelly Manne in the L.A. Four alongside Ray Brown, Bud Shank, and Laurindo Almeida. During his time with the L.A. Four, Hamilton began composing and arranging, ultimately contributing to six albums that include 1978's Just Friends and 1980's Zaca.
As a leader Hamilton made his debut with the 1982 album Indiana, supported by tenor saxophonist Bob Cooper, altoist Lanny Morgan, pianist Biff Hannon, and bassist John Clayton, with vocalist Mark Murphy appearing as a guest. Additional sideman engagements filled the remainder of the 1980s, encompassing work with pianist Alexander, Ella Fitzgerald, the Count Basie Orchestra, Rosemary Clooney, and others. His partnership with bassist Ray Brown deepened when he joined the Ray Brown Trio, resulting in such recordings as 1988's Bam Bam Bam, 1989's Black Orpheus, and 1994's Don't Get Sassy.
During the same era Hamilton co-founded the all-star Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with longtime colleagues bassist John Clayton and altoist Jeff Clayton. The ensemble debuted in 1990 with Groove Shop, spotlighting tenor saxophonist Rickey Woodard along with trumpeters Snooky Young, Clay Jenkins, and Oscar Brashear and trombonist George Bohanon. Resident ensemble for the Hollywood Bowl Jazz series from 1999 to 2001, the orchestra has continued to release distinguished straight-ahead big-band albums including 1995's Absolutely!, 2000's Shout Me Out!, and 2009's Charles Aznavour & the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.
Independently, Hamilton has sustained a series of trio recordings. Following his return to solo work with 1994's It's Hamilton Time, he collaborated with vibraphonist Frits Landesbergen on 1997's Dynavibes and issued the 2002 trio date Hands On with bassist Lynne Seaton and pianist Larry Fuller. He subsequently assembled a new trio featuring pianist Tamir Hendelman and bassist Christoph Luty, producing 2004's The Best Things Happen, 2009's Symbiosis, and 2012's Red Sparkle. The next year he and bassist Clayton backed pianist/singer Paul Kuhn on The L.A. Session. In 2014 the drummer received a Grammy nomination for his contributions to the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra’s album The L.A. Treasure's Project.
Beyond his own projects, Hamilton has contributed to recordings by vocalists Diana Krall, Stacey Kent, and Michael Buble. In 2017 he rejoined his trio for Dreamsville, a collaboration with saxophonist Cory Weeds. Two years later the drummer teamed with pianist Akiko Tsuruga and guitarist Graham Dechter for Equal Time.
Born in 1953, Hamilton was raised in Richmond, Indiana, where he began drumming at age eight. Early exposure to his parents’ big-band and Oscar Peterson discs gave way in his teenage years to the influence of percussion masters Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Mel Lewis, Philly Joe Jones, and Shelly Manne. After high school he completed a music degree at Indiana University and took private lessons with drummer John Von Ohlen. His first major engagement arrived in 1974 with the New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, followed a year later by a period in Lionel Hampton’s band. He next joined bassist John Clayton in pianist Monty Alexander’s trio, appearing on the 1979 albums Facets and Live! Montreux Alexander. Several years of touring and recording with Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd ensued before he assumed the drum chair vacated by Shelly Manne in the L.A. Four alongside Ray Brown, Bud Shank, and Laurindo Almeida. During his time with the L.A. Four, Hamilton began composing and arranging, ultimately contributing to six albums that include 1978's Just Friends and 1980's Zaca.
As a leader Hamilton made his debut with the 1982 album Indiana, supported by tenor saxophonist Bob Cooper, altoist Lanny Morgan, pianist Biff Hannon, and bassist John Clayton, with vocalist Mark Murphy appearing as a guest. Additional sideman engagements filled the remainder of the 1980s, encompassing work with pianist Alexander, Ella Fitzgerald, the Count Basie Orchestra, Rosemary Clooney, and others. His partnership with bassist Ray Brown deepened when he joined the Ray Brown Trio, resulting in such recordings as 1988's Bam Bam Bam, 1989's Black Orpheus, and 1994's Don't Get Sassy.
During the same era Hamilton co-founded the all-star Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with longtime colleagues bassist John Clayton and altoist Jeff Clayton. The ensemble debuted in 1990 with Groove Shop, spotlighting tenor saxophonist Rickey Woodard along with trumpeters Snooky Young, Clay Jenkins, and Oscar Brashear and trombonist George Bohanon. Resident ensemble for the Hollywood Bowl Jazz series from 1999 to 2001, the orchestra has continued to release distinguished straight-ahead big-band albums including 1995's Absolutely!, 2000's Shout Me Out!, and 2009's Charles Aznavour & the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.
Independently, Hamilton has sustained a series of trio recordings. Following his return to solo work with 1994's It's Hamilton Time, he collaborated with vibraphonist Frits Landesbergen on 1997's Dynavibes and issued the 2002 trio date Hands On with bassist Lynne Seaton and pianist Larry Fuller. He subsequently assembled a new trio featuring pianist Tamir Hendelman and bassist Christoph Luty, producing 2004's The Best Things Happen, 2009's Symbiosis, and 2012's Red Sparkle. The next year he and bassist Clayton backed pianist/singer Paul Kuhn on The L.A. Session. In 2014 the drummer received a Grammy nomination for his contributions to the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra’s album The L.A. Treasure's Project.
Beyond his own projects, Hamilton has contributed to recordings by vocalists Diana Krall, Stacey Kent, and Michael Buble. In 2017 he rejoined his trio for Dreamsville, a collaboration with saxophonist Cory Weeds. Two years later the drummer teamed with pianist Akiko Tsuruga and guitarist Graham Dechter for Equal Time.
Albums
