Just as surely as Gerry Mulligan was writing history in the days of his piano-less quartets, so his sidemen were destined to establish a firm niche of their own in contemporary jazz. The accomplishments of drummer Chico Hamilton and his distinctive quintet have marked a milestone in the evolution of the art. “Taste and good form,” according to Chico, “are the basic ingredients of this five-man unit in which every guy is a great technician as well as a good jazzman. It’s a happy setup.” The word happy has a much broader meaning to the destiny of the Chico Hamilton Quintet than the symmetry of its music. The group has criss-crossed the United States and Canada in successful club appearances and is constantly in demand at the major jazz festivals because of its characteristically modern interpretations and experiments. Developing what is termed the “subtle sound” of this versatile unit, spans fifteen years in the life of Chico Hamilton. He has travelled the path from the wrist-breaking Lionel Hampton and Charlie