This post is by Scott and Dan
Recorded on June 28-29, 1989
The original Chico Hamilton Quintet recorded approximately 20 albums between 1955 and 1963, mostly on west coast labels such as Pacific Jazz and World Pacific. Hamilton boasted a blue-ribbon band that included at different times Charles Lloyd, Eric Dolphy, Jim Hall, Paul Horn, Dennis Budimir, and John Pisano. For Reunion, select members of the quintet reassembled in 1989 to revisit their old magic.
The result is far more than a set of "greatest hits" played by old hands. Everyone on the date is in stellar form, and the material sounds fresh and new. The approach in 1989 was very much like their approach in 1955 and could legitimately be called "chamber jazz." Hamilton mostly plays brushes as background for Buddy Collette's various wind instruments while Carson Smith, Fred Katz and John Pisano play their respective string instruments. Only on "These Are the Dues" does the quintet play straight-ahead jazz, but they do a good job of it regardless. Essentially the quintet sounds the same on dates recorded 35 years apart.
Most jazz fans, including us, would agree that their approach is really jazz rather than pseudo-classical chamber music. In our understanding of postmodern jazz in the 80s, styles co-exist. Revisiting older music enriches rather than drags. It might even prompt fans to investigate the 1950s to understand the foundations for today's jazz. We know that Hamilton was atypical for the mid 50s but also much admired for his originality.
We admire Reunion not only for its historical relevance, but also because it's so well-conceived and executed. The musical bonds among members of the original quintet remain strong, and their collective experience results in a quiet triumph of quality and good taste.
Hamilton died in 2013 at age 92. One of his last albums was titled Forestorn (Koch, 2001). Forestorn was Hamilton's original first name, but everyone called him Chico.
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