This is an LP long overdue to be reissued on CD. In 1960,
Charles Lloyd succeeded
Eric Dolphy in
the Chico Hamilton Quintet, a cool jazz group famous for its use of a cello. However, since Nate Gershman (unlike his predecessor
Fred Katz) did not improvise, the group was much more limited than its predecessors. By 1962, with the urging of
Lloyd,
Hamilton had completely revamped the personnel, having a quintet that replaced the cello with trombonist
Garnett Brown and also included guitarist
Gabor Szabo and bassist
Albert Stinson.
Drumfusion was the new band's debut and it is a strong effort, featuring group originals and exciting solos from
Lloyd (on tenor and flute),
Szabo, and
Brown. The music is melodic at times but not boppish, free in spots but not avant-garde. This is a continually infectious and inspiring band, one that deserves to have all of its records reissued.