Jeff Hamilton (drummer)


Jeff Hamilton is an American jazz drummer and co-leader of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. A former member of the L.A. Four, Hamilton has played with jazz pianist Monty Alexander, bandleader Woody Herman, and singer Rosemary Clooney, and has worked extensively with singer Diana Krall.
WWW hamiltonjazz.com

Early life

Hamilton was born in Richmond, Indiana, United States,. From a young age he took piano lessons but was inspired at age five by Gene Krupa and then began drumming at the age of eight. At fifteen, he was invited to play with the Earlham College jazz ensemble. He later attended Indiana University while studying under the tutelage of John Von Ohlen.

Music career

Starting in 1975, he was a member of Monty Alexander's Trio, then Woody Herman's Orchestra from 1977 until 1978. He was a member of the L.A. Four, with whom he made six albums. He co-leads the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with Jeff Clayton and John Clayton. He also leads his own trio, with Jon Hamar on bass and Tamir Hendelman on piano.
Hamilton has worked with Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, the Count Basie Orchestra, Oscar Peterson, and Ray Brown. He toured with Diana Krall and has played on several of her albums. In Japan with Krall in 2002, Hamilton became a fan of Hammond B3 organist Atsuko Hashimoto, and he recorded two albums with her.

Equipment

Hamilton was co-owner of Bosphorus Cymbals. He then started his own cymbal company, Crescent Cymbals, with Michael Vosbein, Bill Norman, and drummer Stanton Moore. Sabian bought out Crescent Cymbals and will be redistributing them through their "Hand-Hammered series." He also plays Mapex Black Panther drums and Remo drum heads and his signature Innovative Percussion sticks and brushes.

Discography

As leader

Indiana It's Hamilton Time Live! Dynavibes Hamilton House: Live at Steamers Hands On The Best Things Happen From Studio 4, Cologne, Germany Symbiosis Red Sparkle Time Passes On The L.A. Session Live From San Pedro Equal Time with Akiko Tsuruga, Graham Dechter Catch Me If You Can Merry & Bright Coast To Coast with Akiko Tsuruga, Steve Kovalcheck
With the L.A. 4
  • 1978 Just Friends
  • 1978 Watch What Happens
  • 1979 Live at Montreux
  • 1980 Zaca
  • 1981 Montage
  • 1982 ''Executive Suite''

As sideman

With Monty Alexander
With Ernestine Anderson
  • 1979 Sunshine
  • 1983 Big City
  • 1989 Boogie Down
With Ray Brown
With Michael Bublé
With Benny Carter
With Rosemary Clooney
With Natalie Cole
With Scott Hamilton
  • 1979 Tenorshoes
  • 1991 Race Point
  • 2015 Live in Bern
With Atsuko Hashimoto
With Gene Harris
With Diana Krall
With Cory Weeds
  • 2015 This Happy Madness
  • 2017 Dreamsville
With others