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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.

Although it came out in 1966, the LP 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. 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." — (via All About Jazz)

(LP consists of 8 tracks and differs from Spotify)

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Label: Impulse!
Series: Verve By Request
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 180g
Country: US
Released: Apr 26, 2024 / Original Release: 1967
Genre: Jazz
Style: Soul-Jazz, Fusion, Jazz-Funk, Latin Jazz
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File under: Jazz