Thursday, December 18, 2014

Scott Hamilton and the Rein de Graaff Trio

Steven A. Cerra
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
I’ve never met tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton, but there are three things that I know we have in common: [1] we both hail from Providence, RI; [2] we both share an affinity for mainstream, straight-ahead Jazz; [3] we both enjoy listening to pianist Rein de Graff’s trio with Marius Beets on bass and Eric Ineke on drums.


The first is a matter of public record; the second and third were reaffirmed by the recent arrival of Scott Hamilton and the Rein de Graaff Trio at The Jazz Room, Breda, The Netherlands [Jazzroom Breda Stereo C15175].


Writing in The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, Chris Deffaa had this to say about Scott’s background and style.


“Scott Hamilton was born in Providence, RI, September 12, 1954). He began playing tenor saxophone at the age of 16, and in 1976 moved to New York, where he quickly gained public and critical acclaim. He has performed and recorded as the leader of a quintet with the guitarist Chris Flory, the drummer Chuck Riggs, the double bass player Phil Flanigan, and the pianist John Bunch; except Bunch, all these musicians worked with Hamilton in Providence.


In 1976 he began an association with Warren Vache which has continued into the 1980s. The two musicians have recorded many albums together and worked as sidemen with Benny Goodman (from 1977), Rosemary Clooney (periodically from 1978), and Woody Herman (at intervals in the 1980s). From 1982 Hamilton has worked with Ruby Braff. He has also performed with such touring bands as the Concord Jazz All-Stars, the Concord Superband, and the Newport Jazz Festival All-Stars, almost invariably with Vache.


Hamilton's playing, although not derivative, is an extension of the tradition established by Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, and Illinois Jacquet. He is a gifted improviser, and is capable of transforming the most unlikely material into memorable music. His relaxed, elegantly constructed solos… [are a trademark] of his playing.”

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