I've heard Scott Hamilton several times over the years at such diverse places as The North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland, Darlington in, I think, Co. Durham although you're never quite sure down there, and at Pizza Express, most definitely on Dean St., in Soho which is where this fine live album was recorded last year and forms the first release of the company's new record label (PX Records).
Hamilton has played Dean St. many times and although it is over ten years since I heard him at that charismatic venue the magic remains. On that occasion the line-up was the same as it is here (why change a winning team?) and serves as an updated cherished memory of a memorable night. I'd loved to have been at this one too but, wotcha know? Now I am!
Like Lester Young, this tenor player knows the value of making every note, every phrase count, without attempting to break the speed limit. Each solo is a work of art.
The same also applies to Dave Green, surely the most melodic of bass players - nobody makes an excuse to leave the room when he solos.
On piano, John Pearce is not just the perfect accompanist but a fine soloist in his own right. Add Steve Brown to the mix and you have surely the greatest mainstream quartet on the current scene albeit, because of other commitments, not sighted as frequently as I would like.
The seven extended tracks offer variety. The Breeze and I, Poinciana and The Girl From Ipanema fall into a nice, easy Latin groove. On Ipanema he matches Getz's version not least because Astrud Gilberto doesn't sing.
Black Velvet, an Illinois Jacquet composition that, after someone had added words, became Don't Cha Go Away Mad, had me thinking back to the first time I heard Scott which was at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the early 1980s where he was pitted against Jacquet, Budd Johnson and Arnett Cobb - formidable competition - I think his relative youth won the day (Cobb was on crutches!) Maybe that was where he picked up this tune.
Blue 'n' Boogie is a blues tailor-made for stretching out on and all four do just that.
The ballad Pure Imagination is quite lush even though it's a tune that has never done much for me - I was an adult before Willie Wonka was born - still this is as good a version as I've heard so far.
The Summer Wind is another strange choice. I was never that fond of it when Frank was raking in the shekels from it however, it works well here thanks to the participants who used it to round off the first set.
The first set! Will Pizza release the second set? I hope so. Lance
Available April 14 on PXRCD1001 see HERE
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