Jimmy Hamilton

**Jimmy Hamilton** was a jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist best known for his 25-year tenure with Duke Ellington’s orchestra, where he became a defining voice from 1943 to 1968. Born in 1917, Hamilton brought a sleek, modern approach to the clarinet, blending swing elegance with hints of bebop sophistication. His smooth tone and inventive solos graced Ellington classics like “Air-Conditioned Jungle” and “The Mooche,” while his tenor sax work added gritty contrast to the band’s lush arrangements. After leaving Ellington, Hamilton taught music and performed sporadically, including a low-key 1985 gig at The Buccaneer in Delaware—later released as *Rediscovered at The Buccaneer 1985*. Recent reissues like *Can’t Help Swingin’* and tributes to fellow Ellington clarinetists Barney Bigard and Russell Procope highlight his enduring legacy as a bridge between traditional swing and modern jazz. Hamilton passed away in 1994, leaving behind a catalog that swings as hard today as it did in his prime.

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