LARRY HAMILTON
Larry Hamilton
NYNO - 9605
available on cd universe
Smooth! Listening to Larry Hamilton is like being in the saddle of a Peruvian Paso Fino as it glides across the terrain, it's feet never seeming to touch the ground, the miles just flying by as you sit comfortably drinking a cup of tea, never spilling a drop. This is R&B in its smooth incarnation, going along the path blazed by the likes of Lew Rawls. It isn't the grit infused R&B of Bobby Evans and Terry King, or The Holmes Brothers. This is neither good nor bad, it just depicts the styling of the music and the road he takes to let his feeling, emotions, and experiences out to the world. This is something he does with a skill and clarity that involves the listener.
To start things off he has the benefit of being produced by Allen Toussaint, and singing in front of the "Sea-Saint House Band". It is not called such that I know of, but this superb aggregation of New Orleans musicians seems to populate the records (give or take a member or two depending on what is need) coming out of the Sea-Saint studios. To say they are tight would be an understatement of immense proportions. They seem to flow as one, providing exactly what is needed to highlight the lead instrument, that is Larry Hamiliton's voice, and let it take the spotlight. The voice is the instrument that he uses to paint his masterpiece on the various canvases, of rhythms and grooves that the band hits with precision. It is this powerful voice that so effectively uses the rich feelings and emotions gathered from a broad range of personal experiences, to portray the joy and sadness that is present in all of life.
A powerful first effort on NYNO Records for Larry Hamilton.
Songs and Writers
1. Don't Throw This Love Away - Allen Toussaint 4:25
2. Back Rub - Allen Toussaint 3:44
3. You Make It Hard - Allen Toussaint 4:16
4. Don't Stop Loving Me - Allen Toussaint 4:05
5. Love is a Two Way Thing - Allen Toussaint 3:17
6. Hope it's Not Too Late - Roger "JR" Branch, Larry Hamilton 4:11
7. The Love We Lost - Larry Hamilton, Allen Toussaint 5:54
8. Still The One - Larry and F.D. Hamilton 4:12
9. The Best Is Love - Allen Toussaint 4:33
10. You've Got That Thing - Allen Toussaint 3:11
11. You Can Have it Your Way - Larry Hamilton 5:39
12. It's So Hard to Say Goodbye - Allen Toussaint 3:20
Musicians
Larry Hamilton - vocals
Allen Toussaint - piano, keyboards
Scott Goudeau - guitar
Roland Guerin - bass (1, 3, 4, 5, 6 7, 8)
Charles Moore - bass (2, 9, 10, 11, 12)
Bernard "Bunchy" Johnson - drums
Larry Sieberth - keyboards (6, 7, 11, 12)
Amadee Castenell - tenor saxophone
Brian "Breeze" Cayolle - baritone saxophone
Tracy Griffin - trumpet, flugelhorn
Tricia Boutte' - featured vocalist on "You Make It Hard", backing vocals (except 6 and 7)
Suzanne Bonseigneur, Ed Roussell - backing vocals