Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Scott Hamilton / Rein de Graaff Trio: Live at the JazzRoom

4

Scott Hamilton / Rein de Graaff Trio: Live at the JazzRoom

By

Sign in to view read count
Scott Hamilton / Rein de Graaff Trio: Live at the JazzRoom
Scott Hamilton, whose enviable career has taken him around the world many times and ensured his appearance on more than a hundred notable recordings, is a throwback to an era in which tenor saxophonists could be readily identified by their sound, phrasing and singular approach to improvising. Not that Hamilton can be; he has instead incorporated many of the more admirable trademarks of his predecessors to become a sort of Everyman on his chosen instrument—not easily spotted in a lineup but perfectly at home and comfortable in virtually any setting and in any company.

The setting in this instance is the music-friendly JazzRoom in Breda, The Netherlands (marking its tenth anniversary when the concert was recorded in 2013), while the company consists of pianist Rein De Graaff's broad-shouldered trio (Marius Beets, bass; Eric Ineke, drums). It's an alliance that suits Hamilton to a T, and he celebrates the experience by mapping out the kind of warm and burnished performance for which he has long been known and praised. De Graaff, for his part, not only comps superbly but shows why he is widely seen as a formidable soloist whose dexterity and discernment are second to none. Beets and Ineke, each of whom is a stellar soloist in his own right, provide a secure bedrock on which everyone is able to unwind and from which they launch their always luminous and unerring broadsides.

Hamilton sets an inviting groove from the outset on Dizzy Gillespie's bop classic, "Groovin' High," the first of four jazz standards on the appetizing menu (the others are Woody Herman's impetuous "Apple Honey," Denzel Best's similarly mercurial "Move" and Tadd Dameron's savory "Good Bait"). They are complemented by a trio of warhorses from the Great American Songbook: "Flamingo," "Speak Low" and "Darn That Dream." Hamilton, a master of every mood and tempo, treats each one as an old and welcome friend, giving it his undivided care and consideration. De Graaff and his trio do the same, producing a mouth-watering banquet for anyone who likes his or her jazz garnished with a generous helping of good old-fashioned swing.

Track Listing

Groovin’ High; Flamingo; Apple Honey; Speak Low; Darn That Dream; Move; Good Bait.

Personnel

Scott Hamilton
saxophone, tenor

Scott Hamilton: tenor saxophone; Rein de Graaff: piano; Marius Beets: bass; Eric Ineke: drums.

Album information

Title: Live at the JazzRoom | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Self Produced

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.