In 1953 Lionel Hampton came to Europe for the first time. The tour was scheduled for three weeks, but then extended to three months because of the overwhelming success. Wherever they played, the band filled the largest halls. On 25 December 1957, the Hampton Band came to Europe again. The first concert took place on Christmas Day in Hamburg. As usual, the Hampton Band of 1957/58 consisted of longterm members along with young talents who one by one would soon leave the band to start their own careers. This time those young talents were the pianist Oscar Dennard, the tenor saxophonist Andy McGhee and the vocalist Cornelius “Pinocchio” James. – Mario Schneeberger