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| A Place for Jazz Presents Scott Hamilton Harry Allen Centennial Tribute to Al Cohn and Zoot Sims Friday, April 25th 7:30 pm Schenectady NY Scott Hamilton is the premier 'mainstream' saxophonist of today. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1954, he came along at the time when the kind of jazz he loved-the small-group swing of such great stylists as Illinois Jacquet and Eddie Lockjaw Davis-was out of fashion, and largely out of the public ear. Scott's handsome sound and impeccable phrasing were a rare commodity among young jazzmen. So when he signed to Concord Records, and began making albums for label boss and mainstream advocate Carl Jefferson, it caused surprise and excitement among both devotees of the style, and in the wider musical world. His first Concord set, Scott Hamilton is A Good Wind Who is Blowing Us No Ill, was made in 1977 and took its title from an admiring remark from veteran jazz critic Leonard Feather. But it became only the first in a long and memorable series of albums for the label, which now stretches to nearly 30 releases They feature Scoff's playing in all kinds of settings-with small groups, string orchestras, in partnership with such distinguished players as Ruby Braff and Dave McKenna, and in many other situations. The constant is Scott's creative imagination and the beautiful, honeyed sound he gets out of the tenor saxophone. While he acknowledges the sidelong influence of players such as John Coltrane, he continues to perform the music he loves, which first brought him into jazz – great ballads and blues, played from the heart, with the timeless virtues of swinging playing underscoring every phrase. A worldwide following of admirers wouldn't have it any other way. Long regarded a consummate interpreter of standards, Scoff Hamilton's big, warm tenor saxophone tone and unerring sense of swing have a way of making every tune he plays uniquely his own. Gene Lees, jazz writer and lyricist, writes, "Stan Getz was once asked his idea of the perfect tenor saxophone soloist. His answer was, 'My technique, Al Cohn's ideas, and Zoot's time.' The fulfillment of that ideal may well be embodied in … Harry Allen." In 2020, Harry Allen was inducted into the Jazz Monsters Hall of Fame at SOKA University of America and was a top-three finalist for France's Acadamie du Jazz's Prix du Jazz Classique for his CD, "Under a Blanket of Blue, " with guitarist Dave Blenkhorn. Not only was this CD recorded remotely during the pandemic, but also mixed and mastered by Harry.He has recorded over 70 CDs as a leader and many more as a sideman. Three of Harry's CDs have won Gold Disc Awards from Japan's Swing Journal Magazine, and his CD Tenors Anyone? won both the Gold Disc Award and the New Star Award. His recordings have made the top ten list for favorite new releases in Swing Journal Magazine's reader's poll and Jazz Journal International's critic's poll for 1997, and Eu Nao Quero Dancar (I Won't Dance), the third Gold Disc Award winner, was voted second for album of the year for 1998 by Swing Journal Magazine's reader's poll. The Harry Allen – Joe Cohn Quartet won the New York Nightlife Award for Outstanding Jazz Combo Performance of 2006 and was nominated for Best Jazz Combo by the Jazz Journalists Association for the same year. Harry also won the 2010 New York Nightlife Award for Best Jazz Solo.Harry has performed at jazz festivals and clubs worldwide, frequently touring the United States, Europe, and the Far East. He has performed with Rosemary Clooney, Ray Brown, Hank Jones, Frank Wess, Flip Phillips, Scott Hamilton, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis, John Pizzarelli, Bucky Pizzarelli, Gus Johnson, Jeff Hamilton, Terry Gibbs, Warren Vache, and has recorded with Tony Bennett, Johnny Mandel, Ray Brown, Tommy Flanagan, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Barron, Dave McKenna, Dori Caymmi, Larry Goldings, George Mraz, Jake Hanna, and Al Foster, among others.Harry is featured on many of John Pizzarelli's recordings including the soundtrack and an on-screen cameo in the feature film The Out of Towners starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. He has also done a series of commercials for ESPN starring Robert Goulet.Harry was born in Washington D.C. in 1966, and was raised in Los Angeles, CA and Burrillville, RI. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in music in 1988 from Rutgers University in New Jersey, and currently resides in New York City. Award-winning jazz pianist Rossano Sportiello has performed with many of the world's finest jazz luminaries, such as Slide Hampton, Clark Terry, Barry Harris, Dan Barrett, Kenny Davern, Bucky Pizzarelli, Bob Wilber, Warren Vache, Bob Cranshaw, Mickey Roker, Harry Allen, Howard Alden, Joe Wilder, Eddie Locke, Joe La Barbera, Scott Hamilton, Jake Hanna, and Houston Person. Rossano appears at Lincoln Center, the Blue Note, Birdland, Feinstein's, the 92nd Street Y, Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, the Café Carlyle and internationally at music festivals and concerts. Mike Karn has performed throughout the world with some of the jazz world's biggest names as a tenor saxophonist, and as a top call bassist. In 2007 Michael began to seriously pursue the bass and within a couple of years was working with some of New York's best musicians, performing throughout the the U.S. and Canada. Michael has performed/recorded with John Pizzarelli, George Coleman, Frank Wess, Houston Person, Bob Wilber, Joe Lovano, Bennie Wallace, Walt Weiskopf, Harry Allen, Craig Handy, Grant Stewart, Eric Alexander, Ken Pleplowski, Harold Mabern, Barry Harris, Johnny O'Neal, Mike LeDonne, David Hazeltine, Michael Weiss, Bucky Pizzarelli, Gene Bertoncini, Peter Bernstein, Jimmy Cobb, Al Foster, Victor Lewis, Lewis Nash and Dennis Mackrel. Aaron Kimmel frequently appears at Smalls and Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, performing as a sideman with the Benny Green trio, Aaron Diehl, among others. He has also played with such jazz luminaries as Harry Allen, Ken Peplowski, Eric Alexander, Joe Magnarelli, Grant Stewart, Terell Stafford, Ryan Kisor, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Brian Lynch, Ann Hampton Callaway, Mary Stallings and Jon Faddis. Our 2025 Concerts will be held at the Carl B. Taylor Auditorium (in the Begley Building) at SUNY Schenectady Community College. All concerts are at 7:30 PM on a Friday. The best deal is with a membership, as explained here. You get 7 tickets for the price of 5, you can use a credit card, and there's no line to buy a ticket. Or, you can click on the Buy Tickets icon below each musician's picture. Or, you can purchase tickets at the door the evening of any concert. They are $25 each; students with an ID are $10. We accept cash or checks, but no credit cards. There is an ATM nearby for your convenience. Carl B. Taylor Auditorium on the campus of SUNY Schenectady County Community College 78 Washington Avenue Schenectady, NY 12305 write your comments about the article :: © 2025 Jazz News :: home page |