Frame For The Blues – Slide Hampton
This sultry, sassy slow swing is a classic for a reason. Made famous by Maynard Ferguson, this Slide Hampton groove head is loved by horn players (like Hank Crawford) and organists (like Dr. Lonnie Smith) alike. Check out recordings and live videos from each of them to see how they make it their own!
- Recording: Maynard Ferguson - A Message From Newport
- Recorded on: May 7, 1958
- Label: Roulette (R 52012)
- Concert Key: B-flat
- Style: Swing (slow)
- Trumpet - Maynard Ferguson, Bill Chase
- Trumpet - Clyde Reasinger, Tom Slaney
- Trombone - Slide Hampton, Don Sebesky
- Alto Sax - Jimmy Ford
- Tenor Sax - Carmen Leggio, Willie Maiden
- Baritone Sax - Jay Cameron
- Piano - John Bunch
- Bass - Jimmy Rowser
- Drums - Jake Hanna
- Arranger - Slide Hampton
Video
- We believe this Maynard Ferguson video could be from his last live performance, or certainly one of his last, as it was recorded only months before he passed. We've cued the performance up to start at the last melody chorus, where Maynard patiently waits (in the dark) for the spotlight and his final cadenza. Although he doesn't play his cadenza with the incredible control that you hear on his original recording (which was recorded approximately 50 years before), it's still sky-high Maynard taking his special journey down to the lowest note on the trumpet. If you're a trumpet player, and you haven't heard his original recording, check it out. It's almost unbelievable! Thanks to Woodhaven HS in Woodhaven, MI.
It's easy to see why Maynard Ferguson performed and recorded this piece so many times: what he plays here is nothing short of jaw-dropping! We've formatted our lead sheets to follow the original Maynard big band recording, beginning with the melody and including the repeating shout chorus that sets up the out melody.
Many artists choose to start Frame For The Blues with the shout chorus first, and then play the melody. Our audio clip for this album starts at the melody.
Many artists choose to start Frame For The Blues with the shout chorus first, and then play the melody. Our audio clip for this album starts at the melody.
This album was the first time Maynard Ferguson and Slide Hampton recorded together, but it certainly wasn't the last: Slide played trombone in Maynard's orchestra on 13 albums over the course of two decades. Frame For The Blues was a staple in Maynard's repertoire; it was first introduced on this recording in 1958 and was featured on Maynard's final album just one year before his death. In all, Maynard recorded Frame For The Blues four times and included it on his "Maynard Ferguson Hit Medley" on a 1988 recording. Since day one, it's been an important piece in his repertory, performed countless times. Clearly, this composition was a special one for Maynard.
- Recording: Hank Crawford / Calvin Newborn - Centerpiece
- Recorded on: October or November, 1978
- Label: Buddah (BDS 5730)
- Concert Key: C
- Style: Swing (slow)
- Trumpet - Joe Shepley, Mike Lawrence
- Trombone - Janice Robinson
- Alto Sax - Hank Crawford
- Tenor Sax - Alex Foster
- Baritone Sax - Howard Johnson
- Vibes - Warren Chiasson
- Synth - Mario Sprouse
- Guitar - Calvin Newborn
- Bass - Flip Greene
- Drums - Billy Kaye
Video
- Jimmy McGriff is responsible for introducing Frame For The Blues to organ players, with whom this composition became a favorite. McGriff first recorded the composition in 1963. Alto sax player Hank Crawford also performed and recorded the piece many times; it's a special treat to get to hear (and see) these two giants reunited in this 1989 performance. Jimmy McGriff - Hammond organ, Hank Crawford - alto sax, Bob DeVos - guitar, Jimmie Smith - drums. Live in San Diego in 1989.
This arrangement features soulful alto sax player Hank Crawford and guitarist Calvin Newborn. The lush arrangement is reminiscent of the original Maynard Ferguson recording, but Calvin's bluesy guitar certainly brings a different vibe to the composition. As you can hear, this arrangement begins with the shout chorus; indeed, this shout chorus is what many think of as the melody of Frame For The Blues. Like the Dr. Lonnie Smith arrangement, this arrangement is in C concert.
If you'd like to play this piece in C concert as played on the "Centerpiece" or the "Spiral" albums, simply purchase the B-flat edition of the lead sheet and use it as your C concert lead sheet.
If you'd like to play this piece in C concert as played on the "Centerpiece" or the "Spiral" albums, simply purchase the B-flat edition of the lead sheet and use it as your C concert lead sheet.
Hank Crawford recorded Frame For The Blues a second time in July of 1995 with one of his soul mates, organist Jimmy McGriff, on McGriff's "Blues Groove" Telarc session. You'll find these two artists together on many recordings; you can check them out playing it together live on the video above.
We want to make special note of their 1998 "Crunch Time" recording for Milestone Records for two reasons. First, you can hear these two giants play a great soulful version of one of jazzleadsheets.com's standards, Clifford Brown's Sandu
, and secondly, because our own Maureen Sickler was there with them at the session to soak up all those soulful sounds in person, as assistant engineer to the legendary Rudy Van Gelder.
We want to make special note of their 1998 "Crunch Time" recording for Milestone Records for two reasons. First, you can hear these two giants play a great soulful version of one of jazzleadsheets.com's standards, Clifford Brown's Sandu
, and secondly, because our own Maureen Sickler was there with them at the session to soak up all those soulful sounds in person, as assistant engineer to the legendary Rudy Van Gelder.- Recording: Dr. Lonnie Smith - Spiral
- Recorded on: January 12 & 13, 2010
- Label: Palmetto (2142)
- Concert Key: C
- Style: Swing (slow)
- Organ - Dr. Lonnie Smith
- Guitar - Jonathan Kreisberg
- Drums - Jamire Williams
Video
- Many others have played this exquisite composition and put their own spin on it. It's a favorite of organist Dr. Lonnie Smith and this video is only one of several performances of his on YouTube. Dr. Lonnie Smith: hammond organ; Jonathan Kreisberg: guitar; Johnathan Blake: drums
Frame For The Blues is a favorite feature piece of many organists, and Dr. Lonnie Smith is no exception! Organists have taken to playing this piece in C, as Lonnie does here. If you'd like to play this piece in C concert as played on the "Centerpiece" or the "Spiral" albums, simply purchase the B-flat edition of the lead sheet and use it as your C concert lead sheet.
Like many organists, Dr. Lonnie Smith opens the melody with the shout chorus. This has become a standard way of playing this composition, but we've presented our lead sheet in the original Maynard Ferguson format with the melody first.
Like many organists, Dr. Lonnie Smith opens the melody with the shout chorus. This has become a standard way of playing this composition, but we've presented our lead sheet in the original Maynard Ferguson format with the melody first.
Jimmy McGriff was the first organ player to perform Frame For The Blues; many other organists caught the spark from him. Obviously this piece is an important part of Dr. Lonnie Smith's repertory. Just check out how many times he's caught playing it in concert on YouTube, in addition to the one in our video clip above!
Dr. Lonnie Smith Frame For The Blues Live @ Arts Garage Delray Beach, FL 6-23-2012
Iowa City Jazz Festival 2013 - Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio Frame for the Blues
Dr. Lonnie Smith . . . Frame For The Blues
Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio at the 2013 Iowa City Jazz Festival
and there's probably even more . . .
Dr. Lonnie Smith Frame For The Blues Live @ Arts Garage Delray Beach, FL 6-23-2012
Iowa City Jazz Festival 2013 - Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio Frame for the Blues
Dr. Lonnie Smith . . . Frame For The Blues
Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio at the 2013 Iowa City Jazz Festival
and there's probably even more . . .
Slide Hampton
April 21, 1932 – November 18, 2021
Trombonist Locksley Wellington "Slide" Hampton was born in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. The Hamptons were a very musical family in which mother, father, eight brothers and four sisters all played instruments and formed a family band. The family moved to Indianapolis in 1938. In 1944, at the age of twelve, Slide played in his family's Indianapolis jazz band, The Duke Hampton Band. Read more...