Now, A Jazz Moment...

NEA Jazz Master Chico Hamilton has presence . He's one of those people you just notice when he walks into a room. Especially when it's a classroom. Drummer Ali Jackson studied with Hamilton at the New School in New York City.

Ali Jackson: When I first met him he has these eyes that are very incandescent and big! (laughs) And you don't know whether he's gonna be ominous, or you know looks kind of ominous, and you don't know whether he's gonna be mean or if he's gonna be nice. So he tests you with his first look. And he looked at me like I stole something! (laughs) Hey, I was just tryin to steal some of his licks!

MUSIC: "Shirley" CD: Chico Hamilton Quintet Reunion, Soul Note 121191-2, cut 6

This Jazz Moment on drummer and teacher Chico Hamilton was created by the National Endowment for the Arts.