Scott Hamilton: Christmas Love Song

The title track, "Christmas Love Song," is a slow ballad by Johnny Mandel that features Alan Broadbent's piano expertise as well as Hamilton's saxophone. The highlight of the session is "Bell Carol Blues," with its contrast between orchestra and saxophone soloist, as well as significant tempo and meter changes for amplification: At a moderate waltz tempo, the augmented orchestra, including flautist Jane Pickles, oboist Dick Morgan, clarinetist Dave Fuest, and bassoonist John Orford, weaves a simple Yuletide melody with a deep double bass effect at the bottom. Then, abruptly, the rhythm shifts to an up-tempo jaunt with Hamilton dishing it out in front of the walking bass and the drumsticks tapping on cymbals. The mood shifts like that throughout, and even features a solitary French horn solo by Michael Thompson to contrast with all of the leader's hot tenor work.

The remainder of the album is not as exciting, but does contain Scott Hamilton's rendering of familiar Yuletide melodies that have grown to become a part of our annual year's end.