Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra - Jiving The Blues
Performing “Live” At The Industriehalle Graz, Austria, 27th December 1954, Part Two.
Lionel Hampton was one of the most extraordinarily gifted jazz musicians ever to lead a large Swing orchestra. He started out in 1935 with a small combo playing clubs like The Paradise Inn. Benny Goodman who was playing locally at the Palomar happened to drop in one night and liked what he heard, so he persuaded the young Hampton to join and record with his band. Hampton then became part of the Benny Goodman sextet, where he earned a well deserved reputation for excellence.
In 1940 Goodman temporarily disbanded his orchestra leaving Hampton at a loose end. He decided to form his own band which was an immediate success. He secured a contract with Victor Records and produced a succession of moderately successful hits. Apart from writing his own theme Flying Home he also wrote amongst others Midnight Sun, Central Avenue Breakdown and Hamp's Boogie. Other labels that he was contracted to at one time or another were Columbia, ARA, Decca and Vocalion.
As the forties progressed Lionel rode the wave of popularity, his powerhouse band being well received, however as W.W.II ended and the troops returned home there was a demand for less testosterone driven numbers and a more romantic, danceable form of music. For a while the band had a mild flirtation with this type music, even featuring a glee club which many people thought was rather sugary.
During the fifties as most of the big bands were going into decline (due to the popularity of electrically amplified small groups and the rise of the solo singers who emerged from the ranks of the bands to become stars in their own right) Hampton's Orchestra continued to have success and such was his continued popularity that by this time he was spending a great deal of his time touring abroad.
The music on this CD was performed on one such tour to a vast and highly appreciative Austrian audience which packed the Industriehalle in the city of Graz,Austria, on the night of the 27th December 1954. The stage curtains parted to reveal the orchestra playing the introductory Theme. As the closing strains faded Hampton walked onto the stage and the crowd went wild. Part of what followed can be heard on this disc. The rest as they say, is history ... Enjoy.
(John Bennett. London. 2005)

Personnel details were provided by Dr. Michael Arie.
Lionel Hampton (Vibraphone/Leading), Nat Adderley, Wallace Davenport, Julius Brooks, Ed Mullens (Trumpets), Harold Roberts, Al Hayes, George Cooper (Trombones), Jay Dennis, Robert Plater (Alto Saxophones), Elwyn Frasier, Jay Peters (Tenor Saxophones), Joe Evans (Baritone Saxophone), Dwight Mitchell (Piano), William Mackel (Guitar), Peter Badie (Double Bass), Wilford Edelton (Drums).

Tracklisting:
1. Airmail Special (5.07)
2. Vibe Boogie (7.07)
3. Jiving The Blues (6.21)
4. Drums Feature (2.41)
5. Medium Blues (8.36)
6. How High The Moon? (4.10)
7. Vibe Boogie/Flying Home (7.41)