[Dixielandjazz] NEA Honors Chico Hamilton

[Stephen Barbone]

Well. it isn't OKOM, but Chico is well known to many of us, a friend to
some of us, and a fine jazz musician. It is a treat to see the National
Endowment for the Arts (USA group) honoring such a wonderful man whose
music spans the generations. The award will be presented on January 23
in New York City. He will be on a panel along with fellow honorees Jim
Hall, Herbie Hancock, Nat Hentoff and Nancy Wilson. Dr. Billy Taylor
will act as moderator at this event during the International Association
for Jazz Education's annual conference at NYC's Hilton Hotel.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded Foreststorn "Chico"
Hamilton a Jazz Masters Fellowship for 2004!! The Jazz Masters
Fellowships are awarded by the NEA to recognize distinguished Jazz
artists who have made a significant contribution to the art form. In
2002 Chico was awarded the WPBX-FM Radio Lifetime Achievement Award, and
in 1997 Chico received the Beacons in Jazz Award from the New School
University Jazz & Contemporary Music Program in recognition for his
"significant contribution to the evolution of Jazz."

Spring of 2003 saw Chico recovered from open heart surgery and hitting
the road with BLAZING sets at the Richard Stockton College, the New
Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (receiving a standing ovation  when he
walked on stage at the Jazz Tent), the Berkshire Jazz Festival, two days
on the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle, and a show on Jazz at Drew in LA
with Special Guests Arthur Blythe, George Bohanon and Bill Henderson!!

Chico has also recently put the finishing touches on his new album
Juniflip featuring his current "Euphoria" quintet with Cary DeNigris on
guitar, Paul Ramsey on bass, Evan Schwam on tenor sax, and Karolina
Strassmayer on flute, alto & soprano saxes. Augmenting the quintet on
five cuts are former Hamilton band-members George Bohanon on trombone
and Jimmy Cheatham on bass trombone. Juniflip will be released next
Spring