Hamilton was born in Dillon, South Carolina, United States, and grew up in Philadelphia. Having learned to play piano and
brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips. Brass instruments are also called labrosones or labrophones, from Latin a ...
s, in the 1930s he started playing the latter in local bands before switching to clarinet and saxophone. During this time he studied with clarinet teacher Leon Russianoff. In 1939, he played with Lucky Millinder, Jimmy Mundy, and Bill Doggett, going on to join the Teddy Wilson sextet in 1940. After two years with Wilson, he played with Eddie Heywood and Yank Porter.
In 1943, he replaced
Barney Bigard
Albany Leon "Barney" Bigard (March 3, 1906 – June 27, 1980) was an American jazz clarinetist known for his 15-year tenure with Duke Ellington. He also played tenor saxophone.
Biography
Bigard was born in New Orleans to Creole parents, Ale ...
in the Duke Ellington orchestra and stayed with Ellington until 1968. His style was different on his two instruments: on tenor saxophone he had an R&B sound, while on clarinet he was much more precise and technical. He wrote some of his own material in his time with Ellington.
After he left the Ellington orchestra, Hamilton played and arranged on a freelance basis before spending the 1970s and 1980s in the Virgin Islands teaching music. On his retirement from teaching, he continued to perform with his own groups in 1989 and 1990. Hamilton died on September 20, 1994, in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, at the age of 77.
Discography
As leader
* ''Clarinet in High Fi'' (Urania, 1955)
* ''Jimmy Hamilton and the New York Jazz Quintet'' (Urania, 1956)
* ''Swing Low Sweet Clarinet'' (Everest, 1960)
* '' It's About Time'' (Prestige Swingville, 1961)
* ''
Can't Help Swinging
''Can't Help Swinging'' is an album by saxophonist Jimmy Hamilton which was recorded in 1961 and released on the Swingville label.
Reception
Scott Yanow of Allmusic states: "The ''Can't Help Swingin'' album showcases Hamilton with pianist Tommy ...
'' (Prestige Swingville, 1961)
* ''In a Sentimental Mood'' (World Record Club, 1963)
* ''Rediscovered at the Buccaneer'' (Who's Who in Jazz, 1985)
* ''S'weet But'' (Hot Drive, 1997)
* ''Tribute to Barney Bigard and Russell Procope'' (Squatty Roo, 2014)
With Clarinet Summit
* ''In Concert at the Public Theater'' (India Navigation, 1984)
* ''Southern Bells'' (Black Saint, 1987)
As sideman
With
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...
* ''
Masterpieces by Ellington
''Masterpieces by Ellington'' is the first LP album by American pianist, composer, and bandleader Duke Ellington, recorded for the Columbia label in 1950.
'' (Columbia, 1951)
* '' Ellington Uptown'' (Columbia, 1952)
* ''Live At The Crystal Gardens 1952'' (Hep, 2011)
* ''
Ellington '55
''Ellington '55'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Capitol label in 1953 and 1954 and released in 1955.
Ellington Showcase
''Ellington Showcase'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Capitol Records, Capitol label at various sessions in 1953–55.
Liberian Suite
''Liberian Suite'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Columbia label in 1947. The album was Ellingon's second 10" LP album and one of his earlier works on the Columbia label.Ellington at Newport'' (Columbia, 1956)
* '' A Drum Is a Woman'' (Columbia, 1957)
* '' All Star Road Band'' (Doctor Jazz, 1957 983
* ''
Such Sweet Thunder
''Such Sweet Thunder'' is a Duke Ellington album, released in 1957. The record is a twelve-part suite based on the work of William Shakespeare.
Background
In August 1956, Duke Ellington and his orchestra were in Canada, performing in the same ci ...
The Cosmic Scene
''The Cosmic Scene'' is a 1958 album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington. Featuring a nonet rather than his usual big band, the album was credited as "Duke Ellington's Spacemen" and was recorded and released on the Columbi ...
'' (Columbia, 1958)
* ''
Ellington Indigos
''Ellington Indigos'' is a 1958 jazz album by Duke Ellington.
The stereo CD reissue released by Columbia (CK 4444) in 1987 contains a track listing and cover art that is drastically different from the original mono LP. A change in song order an ...
Festival Session
''Festival Session'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Columbia Records label in 1959.
'' (Columbia, 1959)
* ''
Duke Ellington at the Bal Masque
''Duke Ellington at the Bal Masque'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded in 1958 and released on the Columbia label.
Blues in Orbit
''Blues in Orbit'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Columbia label in 1959 and released in 1960.First Time! The Count Meets the Duke
''First Time! The Count Meets the Duke'' is an album by American pianists, composers and bandleaders Duke Ellington and Count Basie with their combined Orchestras recorded and released on the Columbia label in 1961.Paris Blues'' (United Artists, 1961)
* '' Midnight in Paris'' (Columbia, 1962)
* ''
Piano in the Background
''Piano in the Background'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded and released on the Columbia label in 1960.All American in Jazz
''All American in Jazz'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded in 1962 and released on the Columbia label.Afro-Bossa
''Afro-Bossa'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded and released on the Reprise Records, Reprise label in 1963.
'' (Reprise, 1963)
* ''
The Great Paris Concert
''The Great Paris Concert'' is a 1973 live double album by jazz pianist Duke Ellington preserving pieces of a series of performances given in Paris during February 1963, a decade prior the release. Several of the tracks were previously edited a ...
The Symphonic Ellington
''The Symphonic Ellington'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded and released on the Reprise label in 1963.All Star Road Band Volume 2'' (Doctor Jazz, 1964 985
* ''
Ellington '65
''Ellington '65'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded in 1964 and released on the Reprise label in 1965.985
* '' Duke Ellington Plays Mary Poppins'' (Reprise, 1964)
* ''
Concert in the Virgin Islands
''Concert in the Virgin Islands'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded and released on the Reprise label in 1965.
'' (Reprise 1965)
* ''
The Popular Duke Ellington
''The Popular Duke Ellington'' is a studio album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington featuring many of the tunes associated with his orchestra rerecorded in 1966 and released on the RCA Records, RCA label in 1967.
Far East Suite
''Far East Suite'' is a 1967 concept album by American jazz musician Duke Ellington, inspired by his group's tour of Asia. Ellington and longtime collaborator Billy Strayhorn wrote the compositions.
Strayhorn died in May 1967, making ''Far East ...
'' (RCA Victor, 1967)
* ''
Soul Call
''Soul Call'' is a 1967 live album by Duke Ellington and his orchestra, recorded live at the Juan-les-Pins/Antibes Jazz Festival on the Côte d'Azur. Ella Fitzgerald appeared with Ellington and his band at the same festival, and a more complete ...
Used to Be Duke __NOTOC__
''Used to Be Duke'' is a studio album by Johnny Hodges, accompanied by members of Duke Ellington's orchestra, released by Norgran Records in October 1956.
Reception
Scott Yanow on AllMusic gave the album four stars out of five, comment ...
'' (Norgran, 1954)
* ''
Creamy
Creamy were a Faroese-Danish teen-pop duo, composed of Rebekka Mathew and Rannva Joensen.
Their 1999 debut album, ''Creamy'', made when the pair were just thirteen years of age, was composed of euro-pop versions of children’s songs. In 2001 ...
Not So Dukish
''Not So Dukish'' is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges featuring performances recorded in 1958 and released on the Verve label.
Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra
__NOTOC__
''Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra'' is a 1962 studio album by Johnny Hodges accompanied by an orchestra arranged by Billy Strayhorn. The album features many members of Duke Ellington's orchestra.
The album was reiss ...
'' (Verve, 1962)
* ''
Everybody Knows Johnny Hodges
''Everybody Knows Johnny Hodges'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges, released on Impulse! Records in 1964.
Reception
In a review for AllMusic, Michael G. Nastos wrote: "It would be difficult to pick a favorite or a clunker, and you'd ...
'' (Impulse!, 1964)
* ''
Blue Notes
In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch from standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies depending on the musical ...
Swing's Our Thing
''Swing's Our Thing'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges and pianist Earl Hines featuring performances recorded in 1967 and released on the Verve label.
'' (Verve, 1968)
* ''Jumpin' with Johnny Hodges'' (Vogue, 1973)
* ''Ellingtonia!'' (Onyx, 1974)
With others
*
Ralph Burns
Ralph Joseph P. Burns (June 29, 1922 – November 21, 2001) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger.
Early life
Burns was born in Newton, Massachusetts, United States, where he began playing the piano as a child. In 1938, he attend ...
, ''Ralph Burns Among the JATPs'' (Norgran, 1955)
*
Harry Carney
Harry Howell Carney (April 1, 1910 – October 8, 1974) was a jazz saxophonist and clarinettist who spent over four decades as a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He played a variety of instruments but primarily used the baritone saxopho ...
, ''With Strings'' (Clef, 1955)
*
Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 – June 29, 2002) was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the song "Come On-a My House", which was followed by other pop numbers such as " Botch-a-Me", " Mambo Italiano", ...
Ella at Duke's Place
''Ella at Duke's Place'' is a 1965 studio album by Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington, accompanied by his Orchestra. While it was the second (and last) studio album made by Fitzgerald and Ellington, following the 1957 song book recording, a liv ...
'' (Verve, 1966)
*
Earl Hines
Earl Kenneth Hines, also known as Earl "Fatha" Hines (December 28, 1903 – April 22, 1983), was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. He was one of the most influential figures in the development of jazz piano and, according to one source, " ...
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...
Music for Loving
''Music for Loving'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Ben Webster with tracks recorded in 1954 and released by Norgran in 1955. The album was reissued in 1957 by Verve as ''Sophisticated Lady''. In 1996 Verve released a double CD compiling ...
Basically Duke
''Basically Duke'' is an album by bassist/cellist and composer Oscar Pettiford which was recorded in 1954 and first issued on the Bethlehem label as a 10-inch LP.Edwards, D & Callahan, MBethlehem Discography, Part 1: CP-1/BCP-1000 10-inch LP Serie ...