Hamilton, Chico (Foreststorn)

Hamilton, Chico (Foreststorn), jazz drummer, leader; b. Los Angeles, Calif., Sept. 21, 1921. A former clarinet player, Hamilton played drums in high school in L.A., along with fellow students Dexter Gordon, Charles Mingus, Ernie Royal, and Buddy Collette. He subsequently worked with Floyd Ray, Lionel Hampton, and Slim Gaillard, then spent four years in the army, where he studied (among other things) drums with Jo Jones. Brief encounters with Lester Young, Jimmy Mundy, and Count Basie led to his first long gig, a seven-year stint with Lena Home, during which he toured often. He also worked in the early 1950s with Gerry Mulligan before forming his own quintet in 1955. The self- styled chamber-jazz unit used flute, clarinet, and cello. It had an intimate sound and elements of “cool” and symphonic music. The group achieved great popularity through their recordings and appearances in festival films, including the famous movie Jazz on a Summer Day. Hamilton has been among the best at spotting and debuting new talent. The list of major names who started with him includes Buddy Collette, Jim Hall, Paul Horn, Eric Dolphy, Ron Carter, Charles Lloyd, Gabor Szabo, John Abercrombie, and Arthur Blythe. In 1960 he was a boxing sparring partner for Miles Davis. In the mid-1960s, he formed a production company to write advertising jingles and soundtracks, but continued to work in jazz. He has taught at the New School since 1987. In 1989, he reunited his 1950s-era quintet for a European tour and recording. Through the 1990s, he continues to lead his own groups on record and on the road.

Discography

Spectacular (1955); C.H. Quintet (1955); Music of Fred Katz (1956); C.H.Quintet in Hi Fi (1956); C.H. Quintet (1956); Sweet Smell of Success (soundtrack; 1957); C.M.Trio (1957); Gongs East (1958); Three Faces of C. (1959); May 18th and 20th, 1959 (1959); Ellington Suite (1959); C.M.Special (1960); Transfusion (1962); Passin’ Thru (1962); Man from Two Worlds (1962); Drum-fusion (1962); Different Journey (1963); Chic Chic C. (1965); EI C. (1965); Further Adventures of El Chico (1966); Dea/er (1966); Gamut (1967); Hearf Huniers (1969); El Exigente (1970); Montreux Festival (1973); C. tfœ Master (1974); Peregrinations (1975); C.H. and the Players (1976); Nomad (1979); Reunion (1989); Euphoria (1989); Trio! (1992); My Panamanian Friend (1992); Arroyo (1990); Dancing to a Different Drummer (solo percussion; 1993).

—Lewis Porter