Slide Hampton’s trombone has a big, shiny bell that’s twice the size of a standard trombone, and it sounds like a tuba wrapped in silk. That expansive and sweet tone was the best thing about his playing Thursday night at the Wisconsin Conservatory, where Hampton showed why he’s still a jazz legend. He suffered a mild stroke in June, and though he seems to be fully recovered, his playing isn’t as nimble as it was in his younger days (he turns 77 next month).
No matter. What Hampton brings to the stand is a deft sense of melody and mood rather than triple-tonguing pyrotechnics (he’s much in demand these days as an arranger). Listen to the way he fills in Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood,” using single notes to imply rich harmonies underneath the melody (beautifully played by Conservatory student Jonathan Terrasi). Or the way he navigates the changes of “All the Things You Are,” crafting lyrical tunes that rival Jerome Kern’s original. It’s not surprising that Hampton has developed a fondness for Brazil of late, his sound is perfect for Jobim melodies like "Quiet Nights" – whispered but full of heart.
Members of the Conservatory’s “We Six” jazz group were great collaborators. Berkeley Fudge brought his big and pungent tenor sound, building solos out of soulful tunes and erupting cascades of notes. The house trio – Mark Davis, piano; Jeff Hamann, bass; and David Bayles, drums – showed the benefits of long-term collaboration. They listened, they pushed each other a bit, they swung. You can’t ask for much more than that.
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