Lambert, Hendricks & Ross

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Primary Instrument: Vocal

The premier jazz vocal act of all time, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross revolutionized vocal music during the late '50s and early '60s by turning away from the increasingly crossover slant of the pop world to embrace the sheer musicianship inherent in vocal jazz. Applying the concepts of bop harmonies to swinging vocal music, the trio transformed dozens of instrumental jazz classics into their own songs, taking scat solos and trading off licks and riffs in precisely the same fashion of their favorite improvising musicians. Vocal arranger Dave Lambert wrote dense clusters of vocal lines for each voice that, while only distantly related, came together splendidly. Jon Hendricks wrote clever, witty lyrics to jazz standards like “Summertime,” “Moanin'” and “Twisted,” and Ross proved to be one of the strongest, most dexterous female voices in the history of jazz vocals. Together Lambert, Hendricks & Ross paved the way for vocal groups like Manhattan Transfer while earning respect from vocalists and jazz musicians alike.

The act grew out of apartment jam sessions by Lambert, a pioneering arranger and bop vocalist who had appeared in groups led by Gene Krupa and Buddy Stewart -- though he had also gained infamy leading a vocal choir on the disastrous “Charlie Parker with Voices” session recorded for Clef in 1953. That same year, Lambert met Jon Hendricks, who had similar vocal specialties that extended to lyrical changes. The pair debuted with a radically reworked version of “Four Brothers,” which featured lyrics by Hendricks and note-for-note duplications of the original solos by Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz and Woody Herman. They recorded a few other sides but were unsuccessful until a chance meeting with solo vocalist Annie Ross hit paydirt.

The first LP by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross was 1957's Sing a Song of Basie. Though the trio originally intended to hire a complete vocal choir to supplement their voices, the general incompetence of the studio voices led them to multi-track their own voices. The results were excellent, incredible vocal recreations of complete solos from Basie classics like “One O'Clock Jump,” “Down for Double” and “Avenue C” with added lyrics by Hendricks. The next year's follow-up, Sing Along with Basie, featured the bandleader himself and his group in a supporting role.

Perhaps realizing that multi-tracking was a bit of a gimmick, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross then recruited a straight rhythm trio and began touring and recording that way. The first studio effort, 1959's The Swingers!, represented a leap in quality and musicianship, leading to a contract with Columbia later that year. The trio recorded three albums for the label during the next two years, including a tribute to Duke Ellington.

All three had pursued separate solo projects during the trio's run. After constant touring began to wear her out, Ross left the group in 1962. Lambert and Hendricks replaced her with Yolande Bavan, and continued recording for RCA. However, it was nearly impossible to replace a soloist of Ross' caliber, and the three albums Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan recorded between 1962 and 1964 were decidely below par. The group broke up in 1964, and Lambert's death in a traffic accident just two years later quashed any hopes of a reunion. Both Hendricks and Ross continued to perform and record, with Ross doing much theater and film work as well. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

Last Updated: February 20, 2007

Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross Discography
A work in progress
02.18.07

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Sing a Song of Basie
Originally released: 00.00.57
ABC-Paramount #223, (also Impulse!, Verve)
2001 Verve CD 07314 54382724

1. Everyday
2. It's Sand, Man!
3. Two For The Blues
4. One O'Clock Jump
5. Little Pony
6. Down For Double
7. Fiesta In Blue
8. Down For The Count
9. Blues Backstage
10. Avenue C
BONUS CD TRACKS:
11. Four Brothers
12. Cloudburst
13. Standin' On the Corner (Whistlin' At the Pretty Girls)
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The Swingers!
Originally released: 00.00.58 – or – 06.00.59
World Pacific #1264 (#1261?)
EMI #_________________
With Zoot Sims

1. Airegin
2. Babe's Blues
3. Dark Cloud
4. Jackie
5. Swingin' 'Til The Girls Come Home
6. Four
7. Little Niles
8. Where
9. Now's The Time
10. Love Makes The World Go Around
CD BONUS TRACK:
11. Clap Hands! Here Somes Charley
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Sing Along with Basie
Originally released: 11.00.58
(05.26.1958 per artistdirect.com)
Roulette/Birdland #52018

1. Jumpin' at the Woodside
2. Goin' to Chicago Blues
3. Tickle Toe
4. Let Me See
5. Every Tub
6. Shorty George
7. Rusty Dusty Blues
8. The King
9. Swingin' the Blues
10. Lil' Darlin'
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UA single #156
Originally released: 01.00.59
1. Doodlin'
2. TBD
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The Hottest New Group in Jazz,
Originally released: 12.00.59
Columbia # Cl-1403
AKA Everybody’s Boppin’, 08.06.59 (per Artistsdirect.com)
Columbia #______________
AKA Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, 1960
Columbia #CS 8198

1. Charleston Alley
2. Moanin'
3. Twisted
4. Bijou
5. Cloudburst
6. Centerpiece
7. Gimme That Wine
8. Sermonette
9. Summertime (based on the recording of Miles Davis & Gil Evans)
10. Everybody's Boppin'
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Lambert, Hendricks and Ross Sing Ellington, Originally released: 11.1960, Columbia # CS-8310
Accompanied by pianist Gildo Mahones, bassist Ike Isaacs and drummer Jimmy Wormworth

1. Cottontail
2. All Too Soon
3. Happy Anatomy
4. Rocks In My Bed
5. Main Stem
6. I Don’t Know What Kind of Blues I’ve Got
7. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
8. Midnight Indigo
9. What Am I Here For?
10. In A Mellow Tone
11. Caravan
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High Flying with the Ike Isaacs Trio, 9.1961
Columbia #CS-8475
AKA The Way-Out Voices of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Columbia/Odyssey #3216 0292

1. Come On Home
2. The New ABC
3. Farmer's Market
4. Cookin' At The Continental
5. With Malice Toward None
6. Hi-Fly
7. Home Cookin'
8. Halloween Spooks
9. Popity Pop
10. Blue
11. Mr. P.C.
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Sony/Columbia double CD of 1996 contains:
The Hottest New Group in Jazz, 1960
Lambert, Hendricks and Ross Sing Ellington, 1960
High Flying with the Ike Isaacs Trio, 1961

Previously unreleased tracks:
12. Walkin'
13. This Here (Dis Hyunh)
14. Swingin' Till The Girls Come Home
15. Twist City
16. Just A Little Bit Of Twist
17. A Night In Tunisia
18. A Night In Tunisia (Alternate Version)
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Jingle Bell Jazz, 12.00.62
Columbia PC36803

1 Blue Christmas – Bob Dorough
2 Deck Us All With Boston Charlie - Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
3 Deck the Halls
4 If I Were a Bell
5 Jingle Bells
6 Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
7 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
8 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
9 Christmas Song
10 We Three Kings
11 White Christmas
12 Winter Wonderland
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Jingle Bell Swing, 09.14.99
Sony #B00000K2B1

1. Jingle Bells - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
2. Deck The Halls - Herbie Hancock/Chick Corea
3. Winter Wonderland - Tony Bennett
4. Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy) - Duke Ellington
5. Snowfall - The Glenn Miller Orchestra/Tex Beneke
6. Winter Weather - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
7. What Will Santa Claus Say When He Finds Everybody Swinging? - Louis Prima
8. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Pony Poindexter
9. O Christmas Tree - Russell Malone
10. Deck Us All With Boston Charlie - Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
11. Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern) - Miles Davis
12. Shake Hands With Santa Claus - Louis Prima
13. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas - Art Carney
14. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) - Carmen McRae
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Misc. covers:

Juke Box EP 45
1. It's Sand man,
2. One O'Clock Jump
3. Little Pony,Down For Double
4. Down For the Count
5. Avenue C
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The Best of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, 00.00.74
Columbia #32911
(repackaged HOTTEST and BOPPIN’)

1. Charleston Alley
2. Moanin'
3. Twisted
4. Bijou
5. Cloudburst
6. Centerpiece
7. Gimme That Wine
8. Sermonette
9. Summertime (based on the recording of Miles Davis & Gil Evans)
10. Everybody's Boppin'
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Twisted: The Best of Lambert, Hendricks &
Ross, 03.24.92
Rhino /Wea, #B0000032EM

1. Twisted
2. Down for Double - Dave Lambert & His Singers
3. Moanin'
4. Cotton Tail
5. Sermonette
6. Goin' to Chicago Blues - Count Basie Orchestra
7. Cloudburst
8. In a Mellow Tone
9. Centerpiece
10. Main Stem
11. Little Niles
12. Hi-Fly
13. Little Pony - Dave Lambert & His Singers
14. Doodlin'
15. Farmer's Market
16. Caravan
17. Everyday
18. Things Ain't What They Used to Be
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01.01.1994
Label: Itm [Tko Magnum]
UPC: 070193124722
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Lambert, Hendricks, & Bavan:

Swingin' Til the Girls Come Home, Bluebird, 1962

Live at Basin Street East, RCA, 1963

At Newport '63 [live], RCA, 1963

Havin' a Ball at the Village Gate [live], BMG, 1963

Lambert, Hendricks and Bavan at the Village Gate [live], 1964
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