Search - Scott Hamilton :: Right Time

This Is the Right Time to Meet Scott Hamilton

Gary L Connely | Hercules, CA | 09/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"OK, jazz fans, what's the difference between ECM and Concord Records? If you said that ECM tends toward new age, euro-jazz, while Concord leans toward main stream stuff, you're right. But that's not what I'm thinking about. How about this: ECM has kept almost all of its hundreds of records in print; Concord, on the other hand, has allowed hundreds of outstanding albums to lapse. I can think of no better example of this sad state of affairs than the records recorded by Scott Hamilton. Counting his work as a sideman, Mr Hamilton has contributed more than 60 records to the Concord catalog - and almost all of them are out-of-print. Unfortunately, "The Right Time" is one of them.



Scott Hamilton is probably the best main stream and swing jazz tenor sax player playing today. He has a big, warm, open sound, reminiscent of Ben Webster and Zoot Sims, and almost unbelievable technique. The guy can just flat out play. On "The Right Time," Mr Hamilton is joined by pianist John Bunch and guitarist Chris Flory - two accomplished leaders on their own - bassist Phil Flanigan and drummer Chuck Riggs.



"The Right Time" includes a couple of Mr Hamilton's original tunes, two by Hoagy Carmichael, (a lovely version of "Skylark"), and four more songs from some of the more obscure corners of the standards repertoire, (songs like Ben Oakland's "If I Love Again" and Earl Lebieg's "Sleep"). This is main stream jazz played by guys who know and love the music - it may not enlighten you, but it will certainly brighten you, (if you get my drift).



The sonics are up to Concord's usual standards: Clean, clear and precise - just a little on the warm side."