Scott Hamilton - Race Point (1992)

Has Scott Hamilton Ever Turned Out A Bad CD?

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If he has, I've never heard it! In my opinion he's the current reigning master of the tenor sax. This CD contains a great mixture of standards........some of the often-recorded songs like "Limehouse Blues", one of the more popular Howard Dietz/ Arthur Schwartz compositions "Alone Together", and the Oscar Hammerstein II/ Jerome Kern collaborations "The Song Is You". It also includes the Carl Perkins 1958 composition "Groove Yard" which is reason enough for bop collectors. Another little-known goody is "Oh, Look At Me Now" written by Jumpn' Joe Bushkin about the time when he played with Tommy Dorsey which was recorded with Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers. My favorite is a beautiful ballad "I've Just Seen Her" which may also be one of Scott's since he also recorded it on "Gerry Mulligan Meets Scott Hamilton". To further enhance this set, guitarist Howard Alden appears on four tracks, two of them duos with Scott. So, you get 2 duo tracks, 2 quintet and 7 quartet selections further adding to the variety. You will like this album if you like small group jazz, Scott Hamilton, or great tenor sax. ~ Robert J. Ament, Amazon.com.

Concord Jazz, CCD-4492, 1992

Recorded 18^th September, 1991 At Sage & Sound, Hollywood, California

Musicians:

Scott Hamilton - Tenor Saxophone

Gerry Wiggins - Piano

Howard Alden - Guitar

Andy Simpkins - Bass

Jeff Hamilton - Drums

Tracks:

01. Groove Yard {Carl Perkins} (5:09)

02. Chelsea Bridge {Billy Strayhorn} (3:52)

03. Race Point {Scott Hamilton} (5:26)

04. Close Enough For Love {Johnny Mandel, Paul Williams} (5:52)

05. Oh, Look At Me Now {Joe Bushkin, John DeVries} (3:52)

06. Alone Together {Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz} (7:14)

07. I've Just Seen Her {Charles Strouse, Lee Adams} (5:06)

08. Limehouse Blues {Philip Braham, Douglas Furber} (4:46)

09. You're My Thrill {Sidney Clare, Jay Gorney} (4:20)

10. You Say You Care {Jule Styne, Leo Robin} (7:17)

11. The Song Is You {Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern} (4:40)

Total Time: 56:50

Credits:

Producer - Carl E. Jefferson

Assistant Producer - Nick Phillips

Recording Engineer - James Mooney

Assistant Engineer - Jerry Wood

Remixing Engineer - Phil Edwards [Per Hayward]

Mastering Engineer - George Horn

Production Coordination - Elizabeth Bell

Cover Photography - James Gudeman

Art Direction - Timothy Toffoli

Liner Notes - Bob Porter [WBGO]

Scott Hamilton & Harry Allen - Heavy Juice (2004)

This CD has been a recording waiting to happen for twenty years. Back then, highschooler Harry Allen joined Scott Hamilton on stage at the Newport Jazz Festival for a cameo performance with the George Wein-led Newport All-Stars. Allen grew up in Rhode Island, which also claims Hamilton as a native son. And Hamilton certainly was a role model as Allen blossomed then—and fast became a welcome young player on the New York swing jazz scene. They've had occasional chances to collaborate on the bandstand. And now, Heavy Juice enables them to join a line of great tenor summit session pairings that through the years have included Ben Webster and Coleman Hawkins, Gene Ammons and Dexter Gordon, Ammons and Sonny Stitt, and Al Cohn and Zoot Sims. This is a splendid session in which two good musical friends mine common musical ground with very similar sounds. Both favor a breathy, growling Webster tone at times. These days, Allen comes more out of a Stan Getz melodic bag, which Hamilton explored in an earlier phase. At times, when they're playing in unison or locked into the same tone, it helps to know that Hamilton is on the left stereo channel, Allen on the right. The crack rhythm section provides a strong cushion, with John Bunch's dancing hands providing some elegant twists and turns at the piano. Nothing here disappoints, but their bop-meets-R&B take on "Blues Up and Down" by Ammons and Stitt ranks as my clear favorite. It's filled with an exuberant spirit of one-upmanship until they blend together for the final shout chorus. In contrast, the Duke Ellington ballad "Warm Valley" enables them to share a Websterish blend. From start to finish, through all eight tracks, this blend of Heavy Juice is very, very good. ~ by Ken Franckling, AAJ.

Concord Jazz, CCD-2258-2, 2004

Recorded 11^th & 12^th February, 2004 At Sound On Sound Recording, New York

Musicians:

Scott Hamilton - Tenor Saxophone

Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone

John Bunch - Piano

Dennis Irwin - Bass

Chuck Riggs - Drums

Tracks:

1. Heavy Juice {Leroy Bass, Wilburt Prysock, Tiny Bradshaw} (6:04)

2. Did You Call Her Today? {Ben Webster} (6:57)

3. Groovin' High {Dizzy Gillespie} (7:03)

4. If I Should Lose You {Leo Robin, Ralph Rainger} (6:48)

5. Blues Up And Down {Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt} (6:29)

6. If Dreams Come True {Benny Goodman, Edgar Sampson, Irving Mills} (8:32)

7. Warm Valley {Duke Ellington} (5:47)

8. Ow! {Dizzy Gillespie} (9:06)

Total Time: 56:46

Credits:

Producer - Scott Hamilton

Executive-Producer - John Burk

Recording & Mixing Engineer - Josiah Gluck

Mastering Engineer - Seth Presant

Design [Package Design] – Kurt Sievert

Photography - Jay Andersen

Liner Notes - Ira Gitler

Andrea Motis, Joan Chamorro Quintet, Scott Hamilton - Live At Jamoboree (2013)

"I believe that this new CD is one of the most beautiful things I have been able to do in my life: for the musical result, and because it brings together people for whom I feel a profound human and musical admiration, and because I believe that after almost 5 years of working together, it marks the consolidation of Andrea as an artist and a jazz musician." ~ Joan Chamorro, Bandcamp.com.

Scott Hamilton Sax Pulls It Together Perfectly

Came across Joan Chamorro on you tube by accident instantly smitten. Scott Hamilton is such a bonus, and live performance adds to the atmosphere generated by this evocative cd. Perfect for jazz lovers. Perfect for background in my home bar. ~ Jolly Roger, Amazon.com.

         

Beautiful Voice

Even though she is not English her rendition of some songs comes across as so sexy in sound, perfect and for a youngster she has a good grasp on what is required to make a fantastic album, a little rough around the edges but that's what gives it that relaxing sound. I would love to be in a small room when they perform, close and personal. ~ Richie, Amazon.com.

Swit Records, SWIT15, 2013

Recorded 13^th and 14^th April, 2013 Live At Jamboree, Barcelona, Spain

Musicians:

Andrea Motis - Lead Vocals, Trumpet, Alto Saxophone

Scott Hamilton - Tenor Saxophone

Ignasi Terraza - Piano, Organ [Hammond]

Josep Traver - Guitar

Joan Chamorro - Bass

Esteve Pi - Drums

Tracks:

01. Exactly Like You {Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields} (4:24)

02. Meditação {Antônio Carlos Jobim, Newton Mendonça} (6:45)

03. I Fall In Love Too Easily {Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne} (6:36)

04. Sun Showers {Arthur Freed, Nacio Herb Brown} (4:33)

05. Someday My Prince Will Come {Frank Churchill, Larry Morey} (7:41)

06. Moody's Mood For Love {Fields, Jefferson, McHugh, Moody} (5:47)

07. Chega De Saudade {Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes} (6:19)

08. Summertime {George Gershwin, Dubose Heyward} (7:42)

09. Lullaby Of Birdland {George Shearing, George David Weiss} (6:25)

10. Corcovado {Antônio Carlos Jobim} (5:19)

11. All Too Soon {Duke Ellington, Carl Sigman} (5:16)

12. My Baby Just Cares For Me {Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn} (5:37)

Credits:

Producer - Jazz to Jazz for Swit Records

Mixing & Mastering - David Casamitjana (Espai Sonor Montoliu)

Photography - Lili Bon Matí

Design - Estudi Prats

Dave McKenna, Scott Hamilton, Jake Hanna - No Bass Hit (1979) [vinyl>flac]

Most pianists are dependent on a bassist to keep the rhythm unless they are playing unaccompanied solos, but not Dave McKenna. McKenna, who has the ability to consistently set a fire under tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton, teams up with Hamilton and drummer Jake Hanna for this superlative trio set. The eight standards (which include “If Dreams Come True,” “Drum Boogie,” “I Love You, Samantha,” and “Get Happy”) consistently swing hard, and there is plenty of excitement. Highly recommended, particularly to lovers of mainstream jazz.

Concord Jazz, CJ-97, 1979

Recorded and Remixed March, 1979 at Normandy Studios, Warren, Rhode Island

Musicians:

Dave McKenna - Piano

Scott Hamilton - Tenor Saxophone

Jake Hanna - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. But Not For Me {George & Ira Gershwin} (4:57)

A2. If Dreams Come True {Benny Goodman, Irving Mills, Edgar Sampson} (3:50)

A3. Long Ago And Far Away {Jerome Kern, Ira Gershwin} (3:48)

A4. Drum Boogie {Gene Krupa, Roy Eldridge} (6:56)

B1. I Love You, Samantha {Cole Porter} (5:50)

B2. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter {Joe Young, Fred Ahlert} (6:07)

B3. Easy To Love {Cole Porter} (5:23)

B4. Get Happy {Ted Koehler, Harold Arlen} (3:51)

Credits:

Producer - Carl E. Jefferson

Recording and Remix Engineer - Wil Morton

Cover Photo - Bruce Burr

Art Direction - DH Studio

Liner Notes - Charlie Drago

Ruby Braff & Scott Hamilton Concord Session

When Ruby Braff joined the Scott Hamilton quintet in 1985, magic ensued.  Recording for the Concord Jazz label, these two giants laid down enough material for two albums.  A First and A Sailboat In The Moonlight are both treasures in the mainstream/straight-ahead jazz category.

Anyone who was here at the Crypt when I was sharing my Hamilton sides, knows how great this group was.  With Flory on the guitar, the group was a working unit touring and recording together.  With Ruby Braff added to the fray, I dare say that this is a perfect combination of players.  I'll leave that decision up to you guys.

"Moonlight" was ripped from CD using EAC, dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC.  A First was ripped from my LP at 24/44.1 wav and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC.  The latter has some noise issues which come and go throughout the album.  The vinyl appears perfect, like all of my Concord sides, but clearly has some groove damage.  It's listenable but certainly not up to my standard.  The good news is that it's available for purchase, and I have decided to publish it here at The Crypt to give everyone a taste.  I have not published many great titles in the past because the fidelity is simply not there.  I have quite high standards for the Crypt, as do all of the great authors here.  We only wish the best for our followers.  So now that my novella is complete... enjoy!!!

Concord Jazz CJ 274/296
1985

Bass – Phil Flanigan;  Cornet – Ruby Braff;  Drums – Chuck Riggs;  Guitar – Chris Flory;
Piano – John Bunch;  Tenor Saxophone – Scott Hamilton

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A First (CJ-274)

Although it is implied with its title that this was the first collaboration between cornetist Ruby Braff and tenor-saxophonist Scott Hamilton, they had recorded a date back in December 1983 for the Swedish Phontastic label. Accompanied by Hamilton's regular quartet of the period (pianist John Bunch, guitaristChris Flory, bassist Phil Flanigan and drummer Chuck Riggs), Braff and Hamilton inspire each other and play some explosive and consistently passionate solos. Highlights include a surprisingly hard-swinging "Rockin' Chair," "Dinah," "All My Life" and "Bugle Blues." Recommended. - Scott Yanow

        A Sailboat In The Moonlight (CJ-296)

Taken from the same sessions as A First, this collaboration between veteran cornetist Ruby Braff and the relatively young tenor great Scott Hamilton lives up to its potential. With strong assistance from pianist John Bunch, guitarist Chris Flory, bassist Phil Flanigan and drummer Chuck Riggs, Braff and Hamilton are a perfect team on such joyful swing tunes as "A Sailboat in the Moonlight," "'Deed I Do," "Jeepers Creepers" and "Sweethearts on Parade." All eight selections (even the obscure "Milkman's Matinee") are well worth hearing, making this a highly recommended set. - Scott Yanow