Scott Hamilton: After Hours

This swinging quartet album is fueled by the supple saxophone of Scott Hamilton, proffering his trademark bag of ’30s- and ’40s-style tenor talk. Hamilton, who hasn’t changed his approach to jazz since his retro sound catapulted to the ears of mainstream jazz fans in the mid-’70s, is perfectly displayed on this Whitman’s Sampler of compositions. He turns “How Am I To Know?” into a swinging samba, croons tenderly on “Blues in My Heart” and sears a slow groove for “Beyond the Bluebird.”

Hamilton’s rich, warm tone enlivens evergreens like “Bye Bye Blues,” “Black Velvet (Don Cha Go ‘Way Mad)” and “Some Other Spring.” His colleagues are the ever-inventive Tommy Flanagan sweeping far and wide on the piano, Bob Cranshaw strongly solid on bass and super-selective Lewis Nash accenting the solos on drums. The album title celebrates the Hamilton-Flanagan Town Hall performance, which evoked a smoky, late-night club feel in concert.

Originally Published September 1, 1997