slide hampton

Biography

Locksley Wellington 'Slide' Hampton, born on April 21, 1932, in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, grew up in a musical family of 12 children led by his father, Duke Hampton, who formed the family band that toured the Midwest from Indianapolis. A rare left-handed trombonist, Hampton began playing trombone at age 12, performing as a singer and dancer before focusing on the instrument, influenced early on by encounters with J.J. Johnson and Wes Montgomery during family tours.[1][2][3][4] After attending Crispus Attucks High School alongside future trombone greats David Baker and J.J. Johnson, he rapidly advanced, joining Lionel Hampton's orchestra at age 20 for a Carnegie Hall performance in 1952, followed by stints with Maynard Ferguson's big band in the late 1950s, where he contributed compositions like 'The Fugue' and 'Three Little Foxes.'[3][4]

Hampton's career peaked with the formation of his Slide Hampton Octet in 1960, modeled after Miles Davis' group and featuring Freddie Hubbard, George Coleman, and Booker Little, which toured the U.S. and Europe while recording for multiple labels. He arranged and composed for luminaries including Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Max Roach, Tadd Dameron, and Barry Harris, showcasing his mastery in blending small ensembles to sound orchestral. After touring Europe with Woody Herman in 1968, he stayed as an expat, collaborating with Dexter Gordon and others, before returning to the U.S. in the late 1970s. He led the World of Trombones ensemble, served as music director for projects like Dizzy Gillespie's 75th birthday celebrations with Paquito D'Rivera, and worked at Motown with Stevie Wonder and The Four Tops.[1][2][3][4]

Hampton's legacy as a trombonist, arranger, composer, and educator spanned eight decades, earning him the NEA Jazz Masters Award in 2005, two Grammy Awards (1998 for 'Cotton Tail' with Dee Dee Bridgewater and 2005 for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album), and teaching roles at Harvard, DePaul, and other universities. He passed away on November 18, 2021, at age 89 in Orange, New Jersey, leaving an indelible mark on jazz through his innovative arrangements and profound blues-infused solos.[1][2][3][4]

Fun Facts

• Slide Hampton was a rare left-handed trombonist, which contributed to his unique 'full and slightly foggy sound, warm and mellow even in the upper reaches.'[2][4]
• His family band opened for Lionel Hampton (no relation) at Carnegie Hall via a Pittsburgh Courier contest win.[4]
• Hampton served as music director at Motown, arranging for Stevie Wonder and The Four Tops during jazz's economic downturn.[4]
• He formed his octet inspired by Miles Davis but aimed for a hybrid sound blending various band sizes.[1]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• J.J. Johnson - early influence encountered during family band tours (inspired trombone style) [1940s-1950s]
• Wes Montgomery - early jazz influence from Midwest tours (general stylistic inspiration) [early 1950s]
• Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers - influenced horn section arrangements with three-horn front line (led to 'Newport' on Two Sides of Slide) [1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Lionel Hampton - performed with orchestra (Carnegie Hall 1952) [1952]
• Maynard Ferguson - trombonist and composer/arranger in big band ('The Fugue,' 'Three Little Foxes,' 'Slide's Derangement') [late 1950s]
• Freddie Hubbard - horn player in Slide Hampton Octet (octet recordings and tours) [1960-1962]
• Booker Little - horn player in Slide Hampton Octet (octet recordings and tours) [1960-1962]
• George Coleman - horn player in Slide Hampton Octet (octet recordings and tours) [1960-1962]
• Dizzy Gillespie - arranger and music director for tribute projects (Dizzy's Diamond Jubilee (1989), Gillespie All-Star Big Band) [1980s-2000s]
• Dee Dee Bridgewater - arranger for vocal recording ('Cotton Tail' (Grammy 1998)) [1990s]
• Dexter Gordon - expat collaborator in Europe (European jazz scene performances) [1968-1970s]

Artists Influenced

• Peter Lin - student and assistant who credits Hampton for his trombone career (personal mentorship) [2000s]
• David Baker - high school contemporary inspired by shared environment (trombone innovation) [1950s]

External Links

• Spotify