From Me to You: A Tribute to Lionel Hampton

1	Midnight Sun 4:07
2	Blues for Hamp 5:54
3	Ring Dem Bells 3:49
4	Moonglow 3:46
5	Gates Got Rhythm 3:22
6	On the Sunny Side of the Street 4:57
7	From Me to You 7:00
8	Red Top 5:53
9	Evil Gal Blues 4:21
10	Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop 3:56
11	Two-Finger Boogie Shuffle 3:24
12	The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise 2:14
13	Stardust 7:10
14	Flying Home 5:56

Barnes & Noble

Terry Gibbs is the perfect vibraphonist to pay tribute to the man who brought the instrument to the jazz world: Lionel Hampton. No one possesses the irrepressible energy and bubbling spirits of the late Hampton, not to mention his infallible sense of swing and musical invention, but Gibbs is surely a worthy acolyte. Although the younger musician took on bop with more assurance than Hampton, Gibb -- a septuagenarian himself -- still has plenty of feeling for the swing era stylings that made “Gates” a legend. Gibbs revisits some of Hampton’s signature tunes, updating them with crisp rhythms and sparkling improvisation. He’s assisted in this heartfelt tribute by such valuable L.A. players as saxophonist Pete Christlieb, drummer Jeff Hamilton, and two younger but equally enthusiastic musicians: guitarist Anthony Wilson and organist Joey DeFrancesco. Wisely shifting between ballads and breakneck excursions, From Me to You gives both a picture of Gibbs’s expertise and a panoramic view of Hampton’s art. Steve Futterman

All Music Guide

Early in his career, vibraphonist Terry Gibbs was encouraged by Lionel Hampton, who actually asked him to join his band (though Hamp's wife, Gladys, nixed the deal). Many decades later, Gibbs pays tribute to Hampton on this enjoyable set. Using a band of Los Angeles musicians including tenor saxophonist Pete Christlieb, organist Joey DeFrancesco, guitarist Anthony Wilson, and pianist Mike Melvoin, Gibbs performs a variety of songs associated with Hampton, plus four basic originals that the older vibraphonist would have enjoyed jamming. Gibbs is more boppish than Hamp, but their styles are not that dissimilar and he was quite familiar with all of the Hampton standards. The musicians clearly had a fun time, with singer Barbara Morrison guesting on "Evil Gal Blues," Gibbs taking a few rare vocals, the vibist playing some two-fingered piano (like Hampton) on "Two-Finger Boogie Shuffle," and the band romping on "Flying Home" and "Hey Ba-Ba-Re-Bop." Scott Yanow