Flying Home and Our Love Is Here To Stay – 1964
Lionel Hampton
Hampton and baritonist Pepper Adams star
In addition to being jazz’s first great vibraphonist, Lionel Hampton was a masterful showman, one who always loved performing for crowds who he invariably excited.
From the 1964 Antibes Jazz Festival, Hampton leads a group consisting of trumpeters Martin Banks and Benny Bailey, altoist Bobby Plater, Ed Pazant on tenor, both Pepper Adams and Cecil Payne on baritones, guitarist Billy Mackel, bassist Lawrence Burgan, and drummer Floyd Williams.
Hampton takes his trademark song “Flying Home” faster than usual, has a long vibes solo and then features baritonist Pepper Adams the rest of the way.
The horns riff behind Adams while Hampton does some fancy drum stick twirling before driving the piece to its conclusion on drums.
Lionel Hampton is also featured throughout the ballad “Our Love Is Here To Stay.”
-Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald