Friday, July 13, 2007

Yahoo LAUNCHCAST Song Of The Day-Milt Hinton


Artist:Milt Hinton

Song:Just Friends

Album:Laughing At Life





In his 60 year career, bassist Milt Hinton probably played on more recordings than anyone but rarely as a leader. The Judge was born June 23, 1910 in Vicksburg, MS and grew up in Chicago. As a youngster, he learned the "slap" bass technique from Bill Johnson and that's what he's famous for. He made his recording debut with Tiny Parham in 1930. In 1936, he joined Cab Calloway's band and was instrumental in updating Calloway's sound in the late 30s. After leaving Calloway in 1951, he worked in various bands until he became the house bassist at Columbia Records in 1954. He literally played on hundreds of records of every kind of music over the next 15 years. After that, Hinton continued to tour into his senior years. Laughing At Life is a 1994 CD on Columbia. This is a guy who rarely recorded as a leader and never on a major label, except this. He uses a couple of different rhythm sections including Richard Wyands & Derek Smith on piano. He also toured with the senior citizen band The Statesmen Of Jazz and at age 85 he wasn't the oldest member of the band. Milt Hinton also has published two books of jazz photography. He died Dec. 19, 2000 at age 90. Milt Hinton remained an all time great as a senior and here he is performing Ol' Man Time in Denver in 1995.

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