Born in Providence, Rhode Island, SCOTT HAMILTON played drums, piano, harmonica and clarinet briefly before settling on the tenor saxophone. After performing locally, he was encouraged by trumpeter Roy Eldridge to move to New York, which he did in 1976. Hamilton then worked with Anita O’Day and Hank Jones and was a member of the Benny Goodman Orchestra for two years before moving on to lead his own bands, usually quartets. In 1977, when Hamilton made his first Concord recording, he surprised many because he was the only saxophonist (in his twenties at the time) whose style and musical interests looked backwards. The great tenor players of the 1930’s and 40’s, like Ben Webster, Zoot Sims, and Illinois Jacquet influenced his playing greatly. Hamilton has recorded almost exclusively as a leader for Concord, and has recorded over 30 albums. He has recorded and performed over the years with singers Rosemary Clooney, Maxine Sullivan and Carol Sloane, pianists Dave McKenna, Gerald Wiggins, and Gene Harris, guitarist Charlie Byrd, baritone saxophone great Gerry Mulligan, fellow tenor saxophone players Flip Phillips, Al Cohn, Spike Robinson and Buddy Tate, cornetists Ruby Braff and Warren Vache, and various Concord all-star groups.

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