| The release Chico Hamilton - Twelve Tones of Love | | | | along your journey. Happiness Prevails livens up the |
| features 15 original songs written by Chico that project | | | | pace and rolls out the horn section while Chico holds |
| new levels of emotion and elements of a sound that is | | | | down a tight and rolling baseline. The track George |
| the signature style of the living legend Chico Hamilton. | | | | was written for his friend and 60's band mate George |
| Twelve Tones of Love: A Piece of Music; Happiness | | | | Bohanon and leads with Chico's legato call of "George" |
| Prevails; George: Nonchalant; Lazy Afternoon; Charlie | | | | that is passed on to George Bohanon on muted |
| Parker Suite; Penthouse A; On The Trail; Broadway; If | | | | trombone before the rest of the band swaggers in |
| You Can't Beat 'em, Fight 'em; Really Makes My Day; | | | | and dynamically changes the feeling and emotion of |
| First Light; Raul Steinway; I Don't Know Why (I Just | | | | the song, which is a signature style of Chico Hamilton's |
| Do); Lonely Woman; Brother Bob; The Alto of Kelso | | | | writing. |
| Personnel: Chico Hamilton: Drums, Vocals; Cary | | | | The cover of Lazy Afternoon, first recorded by Tony |
| DeNigris: Guitar; Paul Ramsey: Fender Bass; Evan | | | | Bennett with Chico on drums for the Tony Bennett |
| Schwam: Flute, Soprano and Tenor Saxophone; Eddie | | | | release A Beat of My Heart, is performed by vocalist |
| Barbash: Flute, Soprano and Alto Saxophone; Ian | | | | Jose James, a student of Chico's, with Chico reprising |
| Young: Alto Saxophone; Jeremy Carlstedt: Percussion; | | | | his role on percussion. The recording is a duet of Chico |
| George Bohanon: Trombone; Jose James: Vocals; | | | | on mallets where he shows a touch on the skins that |
| Jack Kelso: Alto Saxophone (Tracks 17 & 18) | | | | complements the tone and tempo of Jose's vocals. |
| Chico Hamilton - Twelve Tones of Love was | | | | The track Charlie Parker Suite was written by Chico in |
| produced by Chico Hamilton and released on the | | | | 2007 for the 15th Annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. |
| Joyous Shout! label. Where do you start when trying | | | | The piece reflects the complexity and depth that |
| to create a recap of the background for a legend like | | | | Charlie Parker rendered, as well as a dual percussion |
| Chico Hamilton? You could start with over 7 decades | | | | section that lays the groundwork for the band. Charlie |
| as a musician, or over 50 albums that he recorded | | | | Parker was a major influence on Chico showing him |
| under his name and countless other recordings with | | | | depth and levels of rhythm that he never heard |
| the likes of Billie Holiday, Lester Young, Tony Bennett, | | | | before, as well as Chico wanted to reflect Charlie's |
| Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and the | | | | touch when playing the melody. |
| complete list would be a thick book in itself, or that | | | | Other tracks include the originals, Penthouse A, an |
| Chico is still as fresh in his sound and progressive in his | | | | easy listening jazz piece that uncovers different |
| writing at the age of 88, but I believe the impressive | | | | elements of percussion tied to guitar and bass lines, a |
| point is a combination of all of the above, along with | | | | very interesting song; Broadway that features great |
| the fact that he wrote or co-wrote 15 new tracks of | | | | guitar and flute works; If You Can't Beat 'em, Fight 'em |
| the 18 songs on the 75+ minute Twelve Tones of | | | | leading with a mesmerizing saxophone, bass, and drum |
| Love. Chico Hamilton is a treasure for the music | | | | skin/cymbal sound that a snake charmer would beg |
| industry, now if we could only bottle his energy, | | | | for; Really Makes My Day is a short piece that |
| enthusiasm, and creativity, so that throngs of music | | | | features Chico on vocals reciting a poem for his wife |
| lovers long into the future will be able to hear new and | | | | Ellen; and Steinway conjures memories of Chico's |
| progressive music like we continue to receive from this | | | | early days when he and his friend Gerald Wilson |
| legend. This is truly a remarkable individual and a | | | | would take their turns playing on a Steinway, the track |
| release that you will need to add to your collection. | | | | is poignant and the emotional elements of Chico's |
| The release opens with the track A Piece of Music | | | | percussion work float to the top of each line and |
| that was co-written by Chico and his lifelong friend | | | | chord. |
| Jack Kelso. The melody is embracing like a warm ray | | | | With 18 tracks to play and replay, there are textures, |
| of sunshine on your face, Chico's music creates a | | | | elements, emotions, and components of sound that |
| mood and feeling, it is not about any individual | | | | you will find each time you listen to Twelve Tones of |
| instrument or musician, but it is about the total sound. | | | | Love. A masterful release by a master of the genre |
| Many of the tracks were written with regards to times | | | | and a living legend, what more could you ask for? |
| in his life and friends he has embraced over the years | | | | Websites where you can procure Chico Hamilton - |
| showing that no matter how long you perform, the | | | | Twelve Tones of Love are Amazon, HB Direct, CD |
| respect goes to those that were there to help you | | | | Universe, MusicFayre, Insound, and EMusic. |