Scott Hamilton - Ballad Essentials 1977-1996 (2000)

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Scott Hamilton - Ballad Essentials 1977-1996 (2000)

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Tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton is something of a jazz anomaly. Young enough to be part of the generation of players influenced by John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Ornette Coleman, he draws his primary inspiration from an earlier generation of saxophonists. Don Byas, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins and, of course, Lester Young–the big-toned, warm, breathy tenor giants of the '30s and '40s–are the icons that fire Hamilton's approach. BALLAD ESSENTIALS is a superb cross-section of his work, recorded with various lineups for the Concord label between 1977 and 1995.

Unsurprisingly, the program is all standards, rendered with fabulous technique and delivered with genuine, unabashedly sentimental warmth. Hamilton's version of "Everything Happens To Me" could have melted the iceberg in TITANIC; his horn sings over a lush string section in an Alan Broadbent arrangement of "My Foolish Heart," and his transformation of Thelonious Monk's "Round Midnight" stands with any recorded version. Also featured are the great trad/swing pianists John Bunch and Dave McKenna, and fellow tenor Ken Peplowski. Innovative? Not exactly. Timeless swing/jazz ballads played with breathtaking beauty? Absolutely.

Recorded between 1977 and 1995.