Hamilton's Impulse Years: Soul and Swing
A restless, searching record where Hamilton refuses to settle into one sound or one groove.
Chico Hamilton recorded The Dealer (1966) during a period of creative ferment, after establishing himself as a bandleader but before the definitive trio records that would cement his reputation. This is not a peak or a turning point — it's a record caught between identities, and that restlessness is precisely what makes it worth hearing.
The band here is unusually stacked: Richard Davis on bass, Archie Shepp on piano, Larry Coryell on guitar, Arnie Lawrence on alto sax, and Ernest Hayes on organ. That's a lot of voices, and Hamilton doesn't always weld them into obvious unity. Tracks move between soul-jazz grooves and something closer to hard bop, sometimes within the same tune. Coryell's guitar playing has a young sharpness to it, Davis locks in deep with the drums, and Shepp's piano work — this was early for him too — has something edgy and unresolved. The organ gives things a church-like warmth, which sits uneasily against the modern harmonies and the ensemble's appetite for dissonance.
Penguin Guide gave it 3.5 out of 4 stars, and that's about right. The Dealer doesn't announce itself as essential, but it rewards attention. It's the sound of Hamilton at work in the studio, taking risks with a strong ensemble, not yet sure which direction his music should travel. That uncertainty is the album's honest core.
Who's playing
Richard Davisbass
Archie Shepppiano
Larry Coryellguitar
Arnie Lawrencealto saxophone
Ernest Hayesorgan
Chico Hamiltonpercussion
Where next?
More by Chico Hamilton
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