Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Lionel Hampton began his career playing drums for the Chicago Defender Newsboys' Band while still a teenager in Chicago. One of his trademarks as a drummer was his ability to do stunts with multiple pairs of sticks such as twirling and juggling without missing a beat. During this period he began practicing on the vibraphone. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich to Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, and Quincy Jones. In 1992, he was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1996.

This album features Lionel Hampton's first concert at the Newport Jazz Festival and overall is quite exciting. Hampton gathered together an all-star alumni band that, in addition to trombonist Al Grey, Frank Foster on tenor and a couple of appearances by pianist Milt Buckner, boasts the extraordinary trumpet section of Snooky Young, Jimmy Nottingham, Joe Newman and Wallace Davenport. The climax is provided on Hamp's perennial "Flying Home" which finds Illinois Jacquet reprising and then extending his famous solo.

The outstanding Audiophile album presented here showcases Hamptons breathtaking talents during the early days of Stereophonic recordings. The sextet session, Lionel, features Hampton alternating between vibes, piano and drums (he began his career as a drummer and recorded his first vibraphone solo during the 1930 Louis Armstrong version of "Memories of You"). His approach to the piano was highly particular, as he usually played it with only one or two fingers per hand as if he were performing on the vibes. His amazing technique on the instrument can be seen on many of his filmed performances.