Music Pick: Lionel Hampton

Unlike 2001, Sept. 11th was a good day in NYC nearly 74 years ago. On that 1939 date Lionel Hampton put together one of the best pickup bands ever to wax 4 sides for Victor Records. The featured tune, "Hot Mallet...s" is my fave of the four and features solos by 21 year old John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie on trumpet, Benny Carter, alto sax, Chu Berry, Tenor Sax and Hamp on vibes. Berry's solo was so hot Tenor giants Ben Webster and Coleman Hawkins didn't even get to solo. Get a load of this all star lineup. Hamp - vibes C. Gillespie (Dizzy Gillespie) -trumpet L. Lee (Benny Carter) - alto sax Leon "Chu" Berry, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster - tenor saxes Charlie Christian - guitar Clyde Hart - piano Milt Hinton - bass Cozy Cole - drums http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqU9SNl-g9U