Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

HINTON, Milt

(b 23 June '10, Vicksburg MS; d 19 Dec. 2000) Bassist, nicknamed The Judge. His mother was a music teacher; started on violin, switched to bass in a Chicago high school; he played with Eddie South there, with Cab Calloway '36-51; with Louis Armstrong '53-4, Benny Goodman at Basin Street March '55. Recorded with George Russell/Hal McKusick sextet on RCA LP '56, with many other bassists on three-disc Impulse set The Bass, with Red Norvo quintet on Famous Door LP Second Time Around '75; also Milt Hinton Sextet on same label: Here Swings The Judge with Jon Faddis on trumpet (b 24 July '53, Oakland), John Bunch, Frank Wess, Budd Johnson, Jo Jones, also duets with Hinton and Ben Webster. Duet LP with Art Hodes on Muse Just The Two Of Us; The Judge's Decision '85 on Exposure is a quintet set. Laughing At Life '94 on Columbia has two different trios and guests including four bassists. Hinton played on more recording sessions than almost anyone, his excellent tone and taste making him one of the busiest freelances in the business; his ecstatic playing in the soundtrack of Stormy Weather '43 gave the lie to the scenic design of the film, which in one scene had black musicians in rags on a steamboat. He was the house bassist at Michael's Pub NYC '70s; also active in community, church work; TV and music education; has accompanied singers, playing at White House with Pearl Bailey several times, also there on Duke Ellington's 70th birthday: a very popular man. Also a talented photographer, he has published collections of pictures; he brought a movie camera to the street in front of a Harlem brownstone '58 when a famous photograph was being taken for Esquire magazine: the film made possible Jean Bach's beautiful documentary A Great Day In Harlem '95.