Jeff Hamilton was born August 4, 1953, in Richmond, Indiana, initially influenced by his parents' big-band and Oscar Peterson records before drawing on Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Mel Lewis, Philly Joe Jones, and Shelly Manne as a teenager. He earned his music degree from Indiana University, studying privately with drummer John Von Ohlen. His first major job came in 1974 with the New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, followed a year later by Lionel Hampton's band, whose own career is covered in full in his JazzProfiles.com profile.

He joined bassist John Clayton, whose own career is covered in full in his JazzProfiles.com profile, in pianist Monty Alexander's trio, recording 1979's Facets and Live! Montreux Alexander, and was a member of Woody Herman's Orchestra from 1977 to 1978, followed by the L.A. Four, with whom he made six albums. In 1988 he began his association with the Ray Brown Trio, whose own career is covered in full in his JazzProfiles.com profile, leaving in March 1995 to focus on his own trio. In 1985, Hamilton co-founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with John Clayton and his brother, saxophonist Jeff Clayton.

Hamilton has appeared on more than 300 recordings with artists including Ray Brown, Natalie Cole, Diana Krall, Milt Jackson, Rosemary Clooney, Barbra Streisand, Mel Tormé, John Pizzarelli, Benny Carter, George Shearing, Clark Terry, Paul McCartney, Queen Latifah, and Gladys Knight. As a leader, his catalog includes 1994's It's Hamilton Time, 1997's Dynavibes with vibraphonist Frits Landesbergen, 2002's Hands On, and, with a trio featuring pianist Tamir Hendelman and bassist Christoph Luty, 2004's The Best Things Happen, 2009's Symbiosis, and 2012's Red Sparkle.

Hamilton's decades spanning Lionel Hampton's big band, the Ray Brown Trio, and his own co-leadership of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, alongside more than 300 recordings as a sideman, established him as one of the most versatile and widely respected mainstream jazz drummers of his generation.