At under 40,000 souls, Richmond, Ind., isn’t a big place. But it’s known to some as the “cradle of recorded jazz.” And it was certainly home to the cradle that rocked Jeff Hamilton.

Born in Richmond, near the Ohio line and not far from Dayton, Hamilton grew up in the town where many early jazz recordings were made. Richmond was the site of Gennett Records, a division of Starr Piano Co., 

Hamilton attended Indiana University until 1974, when got his first big break, with the New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. He then briefly worked with Lionel Hampton and spent two years as a member of Monty Alexander’s before achieving “a childhood goal,” in Hamilton’s own words, in 1978 by joining Woody Herman and the Thudering Herd, with whom he made several recordings. Beginning in 1978, he was a member of L.A. 4; the group recorded six albums in only a couple of years.

After working as a sideman for Concord, a well-known Beverly Hills jazz label, from 1983-87 Hamilton performed with greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, and the Count Basie Orchestra. In the 1990s, he played gigs with the Clayton Brothers Quartet, toured the world with Oscar Peterson and the Ray Brown Trio, and traveled extensively with Diana Krall, also playing on both of her DVDs and several albums.

Occasionally, Hamilton has led his own trio, recording for Lake Street Records and MONS. And, he’s known as a teacher (who studied with John Avon Ohlen), arranger and composer of music, as well.

He has also drummed with Barbara Streisand and Mel Torme, appeared on Natalie Cole’s “Great Performances” PBS Special “Unforgettable,” and worked on Oscar Peterson’s documentary, “Life in the Key of Oscar.”