Chico Hamilton - The Dealer
Drums, percussion, vocal - Chico Hamilton
Electric guitar - Larry Coryell
Alto saxophone - Arnie Lawrence
Bass - Richard Davis
Written by Jimmy Cheatham (A1), Chico Hamilton (A1, A3-4, B2-3), Archie Shepp (A2), Jimmy Cheatham (A3-4, B2-3), Larry Coryell (B1)
1 LP, standard sleeve
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33RPM
Size : 12''
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Third Man Pressing in Detroit
Label : Verve by Request Series
Original Label : Impulse
Recorded Main album: September 9, 1966 -Bonus tracks: March 15, 1965 and September 18, 1962 -Studio RCA Recording Studios, NYC and Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Recorded and engineered by Bob Simpson, Rudy Van Gelder
Produced by Bob Thiele, Michael Cuscuna
Photography by Charles Shabacon
Design by Edward O'Dowd
Originally released in 1966
Reissued in December 2023
Tracks :
Side A:
- The Dealer
- For Mods Only
- A Trip
- Baby, You Know
Side B:
- Larry Of Arabia
- Thoughts
- Jim-Jeannie
Reviews :
"Drummer Chico Hamilton introduced many top young players during his years as a bandleader, but few probably realize that Larry Coryell made his recording debut with Chico a year before joining Gary Burton's quartet. The Dealer marks Coryell's initial appearance on record, and at times he sounded oddly like Chuck Berry (especially on "The Dealer"). Also heard on this set are altoist Arnie Lawrence, bassist Richard Davis, organist Ernie Hayes (on two numbers), and, on his spirited boogaloo "For Mods Only," Archie Shepp making a rare appearance on piano. Most of the performances still sound surprisingly fresh, especially the explorative "A Trip," making this an underrated but worthy release." AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow
"Although it came out in 1966, Chico Hamilton's The Dealer (Impulse! Records) still sounds as fresh as Long Beach mist. Leading a quartet that introduced the late guitar virtuoso Larry Coryell and which placed saxophone master Archie Shepp on piano, drummer Hamilton made a record that both showcased his fellow jazz princes and radiated his signature charm. He also crafted an as-yet-unheralded, unexpectedly resonant work of art.
Hamilton, who played in high school with Charles Mingus and would have reached a century in 2021, is associated with West Coast jazz and his twenty-sixth LP as a leader emanates Los Angeles cool. Starting with the warm, horn-swirled title track and continuing with Coryell's zipping guitar lines on "For Mods Only," the record could almost accompany some contemporary Philip Marlowe as he passes the gleaming windows of Rodeo Drive.
As standout songs such as the drum-shimmied "A Trip" and the sizzling "Larry of Arabia" prove, The Dealer—which also features Arnie Lawrence on alto saxophone and Richard Davis on bass—brims with priceless warmth.
Like William Parker's Mayan Space Station (AUM) from summer 2021 or Isaiah Collier's Return of the Black Emperor (Good Vibes Only) from 2019, Hamilton's album has a near volcanic energy and, like the most enduring jazz records, takes the form to magnificent heights. The fact that it was produced by the revered Bob Thiele and was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio only makes it better.
When the album was released, America still endured the horrors of the Vietnam War, muck-faced soldiers sprinting for safety amidst all the gunfire.It's nice to imagine, however, in a faraway dream that the bossa nova-tinged "Jim-Jeannie" played from transistor radios and delighted those brave men. Today The Dealer, in all its sonic splendor, remains." All About Jazz Review by Zachary Weg.
Rating:
Discogs : 4.36 / 5 ; AllMusic : 4 / 5 ; The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings : 3.5 / 4