Bassist
Milt Hinton has probably appeared on more records than any other musician in the world and he remains a vital figure in
jazz up until his death in 2000. He grew up in Chicago and worked with many legendary figures from the late '20s to the mid-'30s, including Freddie Keppard, Jabbo Smith, and Tiny Parham (with whom he made his recording debut in 1930). He was with Cab Calloway's Orchestra and later, his small group during 1936-1951. Considered the best bassist before the rise of Jimmy Blanton in 1939,
Hinton was an ally of
Dizzy Gillespie in modernizing Calloway's music. After leaving Calloway,
Hinton worked in clubs with
Joe Bushkin, had brief stints with
Count Basie and Louis Armstrong's All-Stars, and in 1954 became a staff musician at CBS. He appeared on a countless number of recordings (
jazz and otherwise) during the next 15 years, everything from
Jackie Gleason mood music and
polka bands to commercials and
Buck Clayton jam sessions. By the 1970s,
Hinton was appearing regularly at
jazz parties and festivals; in 1995, he toured with the Statesmen of Jazz. Although he was a modern soloist,
Hinton kept the art of slap bass alive. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
