Scott Hamilton has never been an innovator, but he has certainly been consistent. "Groundbreaking" isn't a word you will ever hear in connection with the breathy tenor man, who has excelled by sticking with the type of 1940s-minded jazz that he's known for. Although recorded in 2000,
Jazz Signatures never loses its swing-to-bop mindset. Joined by pianist
John Bunch, bassist Dave Green, and drummer Steve Brown,
Hamilton has one foot in small-group swing and the other in early bebop and, true to form, he is as expressive on medium-tempo and fast numbers (
Billy Strayhorn's "Raincheck,"
Fats Waller's "Jitterbug Waltz") as he is on ballads (
Tadd Dameron's "If You Could See Me Now"). Some of the songs have been recorded countless times --
Dave Brubeck's "In Your Own Sweet Way" certainly fits that description -- but
Hamilton also unearths some neglected jewels, including
Don Byas' "Byas a Drink" (a variation on
Benny Goodman's "Stomping at the Savoy") and the gorgeous
Hank Jones ballad "Angel Face."
Jazz Signatures falls short of essential; it's solid and consistently rewarding, but then, the New Englander recorded a lot of equally rewarding albums in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Nonetheless,
Hamilton's hardcore fans will find a lot to admire about this CD. ~ Alex Henderson