Hamilton’s Princip Physik

Scott Hamilton's Ballad Essentials collects interpretations of standards like "Skylark", "Body and Soul", "In a Sentimental Mood", "'Round Midnight", and "My Romance". A solid collection from one of mainstream jazz's most consistent tenor sax players.

Tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton's debut for Concord alerted the jazz world to the young swing stylist and predated Wynton Marsalis' first record (and the emergence of the Young Lions) by a couple years. Hamilton, who mixed together Zoot Sims and Ben Webster to form his own recognizable tone, already sounded in prime form for this set. Teamed up with trumpeter Bill Berry, pianist Nat Pierce, bassist Monty Budwig, and drummer Jake Hanna, Hamilton essentially launched the revival of mainstream jazz with this record. Highlights include "Indiana," "Stuffy," "Broadway," and "Blue Room," but all eight selections are quite enjoyable.

Prima Facie presents Salon and Stage, the second volume of Kenneth Hamilton's internationally acclaimed Liszt series. In contrast to the first album, Death and Transfiguration, this recording offers a life-enhancing selection of virtuoso transcriptions from song and opera. But it happily shares with its predecessor Hamilton's passion for these pieces. He has sought out Liszt's oft-ignored recommendations on their interpretation and studied the reminiscences and recordings of his students. He has, in effect, tried to think like a Liszt pupil, and to immerse himself in a performance tradition that goes well beyond the printed text.

Sparse but compelling gospel recordings from the late 60s and early 70s, brimming with the soul sounds for which Dave Hamilton is renowned.