Milton John Hinton (June 23, 1910 – December 19, 2000) was an American double bassist and photographer.
Regarded as the Dean of American jazz bass players, his nicknames included "Sporty" from his years in Chicago, "Fump" from his time on the road with Cab Calloway, and "The Judge" from the 1950s and beyond. Hinton's recording career lasted over 60 years, mostly in jazz but also with a variety of other genres as a prolific session musician.
He was also a photographer of note, praised for documenting American jazz during the 20th Century.
Tap on any album for track list.
The Milt Hinton Institute for Studio Bass returns July 19–25, 2026 at Drew University, featuring top faculty and Scott LaFaro’s Prescott bass.
Is there a more “bassist photo” than this? Paul Thompson tells the story behind Art Kane’s "Harlem, 1958" pic you (probably) don't know about, and the four bassists in it.
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) has announced the Milt Hinton Institute for Studio Bass, a performance camp for student bassists focusing solely on our instrument.
I recently picked up Milt Hinton’s book Bass Line, and it just reinforced what a wonderful life he led. Known for his incredible slap technique, “The Judge” was also known for his great sense of humor, and here’s a great clip that shows off his personality and playing. The recording comes from the 1992 Mid-America Jazz Festival in St. Louis,...
