Hampton’s Boogie – 1988
Lionel Hampton
Hampton and his big band excite a crowd
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Lionel Hampton (1908-2002) was always a masterful showman and a real crowd pleaser.
80 at the time of this performance, Hampton and his big band are featured at the 1988 Newport Jazz Festival in Japan.
The audience was already quite excited as “Hampton’s Boogie” begins and the feeling grows throughout the long jam.
Hampton solos on vibes, dances a bit as the band riffs, plays a bit of his speedy two-fingered piano and, after a brief spot that was filmed earlier backstage with George Wein, drives the rollicking piece to its conclusion on drums.
The sheer joy of what was a typically exuberant Lionel Hampton performance is expertly captured on this film.
-Scott Yanow
