Ken Taylor

Jazz History
Hampton Hawes

Hampton Hawes was born on November 13, 1928. He was a piano player entirely self taught. As a toddler he would sit on his mothers lap while she practiced playing. He also apparently was abled to pick out complexed tunes at the age of 3. He played Jazz and hard bop music with some west coast mixed in. At the age of 19 he was playing for eight months with Howard Mcghee Quintet at the Hi De Ho Club, in a group that included Charlie Parker. After serving in Japan for the Army from 1952-1954 he formed a trio with a bassist Red Mitchell and drummer Chuck Thompson. The three recorded trio sessions in 1955 became some of the finest records to come out in the west coast at the time. Within the next year he decided to add a guitarist named Jim Hall for the All Night Sessions. After a six month national tour in 1956, Hawes won the 'New Star of the Year' award in Down Beat magazine, and 'Arrival of the Year' in Metronome magazine. Hawes was eventually arrested on his 30th birthday for his heroin addiction. He was sentenced for 10 years in a hospital prison, which is twice the regular sentence. While in between his trials tho, he recorded a new album of spirituals and gospel songs the Sermon for Contemporary Records.

Hampton Hawes was born on November 13, 1928. He was a piano player entirely self taught. As a toddler he would sit on his mothers lap while she practiced playing. He also apparently was abled to pick out complexed tunes at the age of 3. He played Jazz and hard bop music with some west coast mixed in. At the age of 19 he was playing for eight months with Howard Mcghee Quintet at the Hi De Ho Club, in a group that included Charlie Parker. After serving in Japan for the Army from 1952-1954 he formed a trio with a bassist Red Mitchell and drummer Chuck Thompson. The three recorded trio sessions in 1955 became some of the finest records to come out in the west coast at the time. Within the next year he decided to add a guitarist named Jim Hall for the All Night Sessions. After a six month national tour in 1956, Hawes won the 'New Star of the Year' award in Down Beat magazine, and 'Arrival of the Year' in Metronome magazine. Hawes was eventually arrested on his 30th birthday for his heroin addiction. He was sentenced for 10 years in a hospital prison, which is twice the regular sentence. While in between his trials tho, he recorded