Scott Hamilton

A swinging tenor saxophonist with a warm tone and supple feel, Scott Hamilton first emerged in the 1970s playing a style that hearkened back to the pre-bebop sound of artists like Ben Webster and Zoot Sims. It was a style that helped Hamilton stand out from his contemporaries, especially during the electrified era of fusion jazz. A string of celebrated albums, including 1977's Swinging Young Scott, 1979's Tenorshoes, and 1986's The Right Time, showcased his knack for acoustic jazz, blues, and standards. Along with contemporaries like cornetist Warren Vache, saxophonist Harry Allen, and saxophonist Scott Robinson, he has continued to keep older jazz traditions alive, playing with swing veterans like guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, as he did on 1998's Red Door: Remember Zoot Sims, and issuing elegant sessions from his adopted home of Italy, like 2019's Danish Ballads & More.