Hamilton Bids Adieu to Ray Brown’s Band

Drummer Jeff Hamilton, who has been a steady member of ensembles led by Ray Brown since 1978, leaves the bassist’s trio on Sunday, at the conclusion of the band’s six-night stand at Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood.

“I felt it was time to embark on musical ideas of my own,” said Hamilton, before Tuesday’s rousing first set with Brown and pianist Benny Green at Catalina’s. The drummer said he will focus on his trio, with pianist Larry Fuller and bassist Lyn Seaton, and his work with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, which he co-leads with the Clayton brothers, altoist Jeff and bassist-composer John.

While admitting that his decision to leave Brown’s employ is “bittersweet,” Hamilton said he and Brown, his “favorite bassist,” will continue to play together including a concert date later this year in Cologne, Germany.

Brown said he was sorry to lose Hamilton and noted that the two “had had a lot of fun. He’s been a great addition to my trio.”

Hamilton will be replaced by Greg Hutchison, who will join the trio in early April for an engagement at the Horton Grand hotel in San Diego. Hutchison will also work with bassist Christian McBride, appearing with him at Catalina’s from March 28 through April 2.

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Dotted Line: After almost 20 years with Warner Bros. Records, George Benson has signed an exclusive worldwide recording contract with GRP Records. Benson will rejoin his former producer Tommy LiPuma, who became president of GRP late last year. LiPuma produced “Breezin’,” the smash-hit Warner Bros. album that won four Grammys in 1976, including record of the year.

“As we prepare to lead GRP into the future, I can’t think of a more inspiring and wonderful event than bringing George into our family of artists, and I look forward to working with him again,” said LiPuma in a press release.

Benson is currently in London, working on his first GRP album, which will be released in July. The producer is Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick, founder and leader of the hip-hop group Incognito.

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Datebook: Pianist Mike Melvoin’s combo, with saxman Pete Christlieb, plays a free concert Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Wadsworth Theatre in Brentwood, (310) 794-8961. . . . Pianist-songwriter Dave Frishberg, a former Angeleno, appears tonight at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, (310) 781-7171, and on Saturday and Sunday at Jeannine Frank’s intimate Parlor Performance series, held in a large home at 601 17th St., Santa Monica, (310) 471-3979.