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Scott Hamilton (musician)
Encyclopedia
Scott Hamilton is a jazz tenor saxophonist
, born in 1954 and associated with swing (music) and mainstream jazz.
, Coleman Hawkins
as well as Zoot Sims
and Don Byas
forward. He began playing in various rhythm & blues outfits in Providence (Rhode Island
), but subsequently shifted to jazz and the tenor saxophone. In 1976 he moved to New York City
at, in part the recommendation of Roy Eldridge
. He there joined Benny Goodman
for a period of time and in 1977 recorded his debut album for Concord Records
, with whom he would have a long recording career in his own name and as one of their Concord Jazz All Stars. He also worked as a backing musician for singer Rosemary Clooney
and others.
In the early 1980s he had formed his own quintet and toured all over the world. By then free from his drinking habit, in 1982 he had matured sufficiently to be able to break away from the spell of mainly Ben Webster
and Zoot Sims
, whom he had been criticized of imitating. From this point on both his playing and his tone were very much his own.
Living in New York City, he toured all around the world during the 1980s, playing Japan and all over Europe. He was in particular a recurrent visitor to the UK, Sweden and the Grande Parade du Jazz, held in Nice, France. By the early 1990s he was ready for a next step and by 1994 when he released Organic Duke, he had developed a quite singular style: a large, well-rounded but still focused tone and improvising, ostensibly still based on the swing idiom (especially Ellington
), but incorporating more modern elements. During this period, he relocated to London, and formed his current quartet, featuring British musicians John Pearce (p), Dave Green (b) and Steve Brown (dr), with whom he recorded East of the Sun in 1993. He is currently active touring all over Europe.
He has recorded over forty albums as a lead including the following on Carl Jefferson
's Concord Records
label, except where marked.
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
, born in 1954 and associated with swing (music) and mainstream jazz.
Biography
He emerged in the 1970s and at the time he was considered to be one of the few musicians of real talent who carried the tradition of the classic jazz tenor saxophone in the style of Ben WebsterBen Webster
Benjamin Francis Webster , a.k.a. "The Brute" or "Frog," was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist. Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young...
, Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Randolph Hawkins was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Hawkins was one of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument. As Joachim E. Berendt explained, "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn"...
as well as Zoot Sims
Zoot Sims
John Haley "Zoot" Sims was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor and soprano.-Biography:He was born in Inglewood, California, the son of vaudeville performers Kate Haley and John Sims. Growing up in a performing family, Sims learned to play both drums and clarinet at an early age...
and Don Byas
Don Byas
Carlos Wesley "Don" Byas was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, long-resident in Europe.- Oklahoma and Los Angeles :...
forward. He began playing in various rhythm & blues outfits in Providence (Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
), but subsequently shifted to jazz and the tenor saxophone. In 1976 he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at, in part the recommendation of Roy Eldridge
Roy Eldridge
Roy David Eldridge , nicknamed "Little Jazz" was an American jazz trumpet player. His sophisticated use of harmony, including the use of tritone substitutions, his virtuosic solos and his strong influence on Dizzy Gillespie mark him as one of the most exciting musicians of the swing era and a...
. He there joined Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
for a period of time and in 1977 recorded his debut album for Concord Records
Concord Records
Concord Records is a U.S. record label now based in Beverly Hills, California. Originally known as Concord Jazz, it was established in 1972 as an off-shoot of the Concord Jazz Festival in Concord, California by festival founder Carl Jefferson, a local automobile dealer and jazz fan who sold his...
, with whom he would have a long recording career in his own name and as one of their Concord Jazz All Stars. He also worked as a backing musician for singer Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House" written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian , which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 –...
and others.
In the early 1980s he had formed his own quintet and toured all over the world. By then free from his drinking habit, in 1982 he had matured sufficiently to be able to break away from the spell of mainly Ben Webster
Ben Webster
Benjamin Francis Webster , a.k.a. "The Brute" or "Frog," was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist. Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young...
and Zoot Sims
Zoot Sims
John Haley "Zoot" Sims was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor and soprano.-Biography:He was born in Inglewood, California, the son of vaudeville performers Kate Haley and John Sims. Growing up in a performing family, Sims learned to play both drums and clarinet at an early age...
, whom he had been criticized of imitating. From this point on both his playing and his tone were very much his own.
Living in New York City, he toured all around the world during the 1980s, playing Japan and all over Europe. He was in particular a recurrent visitor to the UK, Sweden and the Grande Parade du Jazz, held in Nice, France. By the early 1990s he was ready for a next step and by 1994 when he released Organic Duke, he had developed a quite singular style: a large, well-rounded but still focused tone and improvising, ostensibly still based on the swing idiom (especially Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
), but incorporating more modern elements. During this period, he relocated to London, and formed his current quartet, featuring British musicians John Pearce (p), Dave Green (b) and Steve Brown (dr), with whom he recorded East of the Sun in 1993. He is currently active touring all over Europe.
Discography
Carl Jefferson
Carl Jefferson was an American jazz record producer, and was the founder of the Concord Records label.Prior to entering the music business, Jefferson sold used cars. In 1969, he organized a jazz festival in Concord, California, the Concord Summer Festival; several years later it was renamed the...
's Concord Records
Concord Records
Concord Records is a U.S. record label now based in Beverly Hills, California. Originally known as Concord Jazz, it was established in 1972 as an off-shoot of the Concord Jazz Festival in Concord, California by festival founder Carl Jefferson, a local automobile dealer and jazz fan who sold his...
label, except where marked.
- Scott Hamilton Is a Good Wind Who Is Blowing Us No Ill (1977)
- Scott Hamilton 2 (1978)
- With Scott's Band in New York City (1978)
- Grand Appearance (1978) (Progressive RecordsProgressive Records-Artists:*Harry Allen*Laurie Altman*Milt Buckner*Chris Connor*Alice Cooper*Buddy DeFranco*Tommy Flanagan*Don Friedman*Al Haig*Sir Roland Hanna*Hank Jones*Lee Konitz*Stan Mark*Red Norvo*Maddy Prior*Derek Smith*Steeleye Span*Sonny Stitt*U.K. Subs...
) - No Bass Hit (1978)
- Tenorshoes (1979)
- Tour De Force (1982)
- Close Up (1982)
- The Second Set (1984)
- A First (1984)
- Uptown (1985)
- A Sailboat in the Moonlight (Ruby BraffRuby BraffReuben "Ruby" Braff was an American jazz trumpeter and cornetist. Jack Teagarden was once asked about him on the Gary Moore TV show and described Ruby as "The Ivy League Louis Armstrong."Braff was born in Boston...
with Scott Hamilton) (1986) - Soft Lights & Sweet Music (Gerry MulliganGerry MulliganGerald Joseph "Gerry" Mulligan was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though Mulligan is primarily known as one of the leading baritone saxophonists in jazz history – playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz – he was also...
meets Scott Hamilton) (1986) - Major League (1986)
- The Right Time (1986)
- A Sound Investment (1987)
- Scott Hamilton Plays Ballads (1989)
- Radio City (1990)
- At Last (1990) with pianist Gene HarrisGene HarrisGene Harris was an American jazz pianist known for his warm sound and blues and gospel infused style that is known as soul jazz....
- Scott Hamilton with Strings (1992) arranged by pianist Alan BroadbentAlan BroadbentAlan Broadbent, MNZM , is a jazz pianist, arranger and composer best known for his work with artists such as Woody Herman, Diane Schuur, Chet Baker, Irene Kral, Sheila Jordan, Charlie Haden, Warne Marsh, Bud Shank, and many others.Broadbent studied piano and music theory in his own country, but in...
- Groovin' High (1996) with Spike RobinsonSpike RobinsonHenry Berthold "Spike" Robinson was a tenor saxophonist. He began playing at age twelve, making recordings with famous jazz and bop musicians on several labels including Discovery, Hep and Concord. However, he sought an engineering degree and followed that profession on a fulltime basis for nearly...
and Ken Peplowski - East of the Sun (1993) with his UK-based trio
- After Hours (1997)
- Red Door: Remember Zoot Sims (1998)
- Blues, Bop and Ballads (1999)
- Jazz Signatures (2001) with the John BunchJohn BunchJohn Bunch was an American jazz pianist.-Biography:Born and raised in Tipton, Indiana, a small farming community, he studied piano with George Johnson, a well-known Hoosier jazz pianist...
Trio - Live in London (2003) with his quartet
- Back in New York (2005)
- Nocturnes and Serenades(2006)
- Zootcase (2006) with Alan BarnesAlan Barnes (musician)Alan Barnes is an English Jazz musician.- Career :Alan Barnes attended Leeds College of Music between 1977–80 where he studied saxophone, woodwinds and arranging before moving to London. In 1980 he played with the Midnight Follies Orchestra and the following year was with the Pasadena Roof...
and David Newton (Woodville Records) - Across the Tracks (2008)