Scott Hamilton – In The Still Of The Night

Description

EC628  CD, Vinyl, Download & Streaming     Release 08.05.2026

Scott Hamilton’s debut with his quintet on GLM Music presents an exciting program with familiar and rarely heard themes in the delightful combination of tenor saxophone and vibraphone.

Scott Hamilton (Tenorsaxophone), Tizian Jost (Vibraphone), Bernhard Pichl (Piano), Rudi Engel (Doublebass), Michael Keul (Drums)

If there’s a saxophone sound in jazz today that can make time stand still for a moment, it is Scott Hamilton’s. With his distinctive sound and numerous recordings spanning five decades, he has left a lasting mark on mainstream jazz and is widely considered a legend. A master of nuance, effortlessly combining powerful presence with elegant lightness in his playing, deeply rooted in the melodic richness of swing. Undoubtedly, Rhode Island–born Scott Hamilton ranks among the great storytellers on the tenor saxophone, standing firmly in the tradition of iconic swing-tenor jazz masters such as Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, and Zoot Sims.

With his new album, “In The Still Of The Night,” Hamilton continues his impressive 50-year career and simultaneously makes his debut on the GLM label. Once again, he showcases his remarkable gift for unearthing forgotten gems from jazz history and infusing them with fresh, vibrant life.

It’s a rare delight these days to hear jazz played with such effortless elegance and relaxed swing. The album’s title track, the Cole Porter standard „In the Still of the Night“, radiates classic blues feeling, as does „The Prophet Speaks“, a composition by the legendary vibraphonist Milt Jackson. Hamilton also shines a light on lesser-known figures: the nearly forgotten saxophonist Lucky Thompson is brought back into focus with a fresh take on his composition „The World Awakes“. In the seldom-heard ballad „Angel Face“ by Hank Jones, Hamilton’s distinctive charm unfolds, his warm, inviting tone seemingly made for ballads. The program includes timeless treasures such as Mal Waldron’s „Soul Eyes“ and the Modern Jazz Quartet classic „Django“. Throughout, a nocturnal cityscape opens before the imagination—a glass of whisky, a cigar in hand, and a wandering thought.

The new recordings, however, are far more than a solo performance — they are the result of a long-standing musical friendship. Since 2009, Bernhard Pichl (piano), Rudi Engel (bass), and Michael Keul (drums) have formed the tremendously swinging rhythmic backbone for Hamilton’s sensitive sound poetry on countless tours. In this seventh joint production, the ensemble’s musical intimacy is noticeable in every measure. This isn’t the first time they’ve expanded to a powerful quintet with vibraphonist Tizian Jost, and the wonderful harmonic interplay between saxophone and vibraphone gives the music a special, distinctive quality. The recording, released both as a CD and a 180g vinyl edition, combines tastefully played, elegant improvisation with a swinging pulse and drive to create timelessly beautiful jazz!