It’s not well known that tenor saxist Scott Hamilton was actually the guy who refused to plug in during the “fusion 70s” and started the return to vintage acoustic jazz with his breathy blowing with mainstream old timers. Now an “old timer” himself, and an elder statesman of the Ben Webster/Illinois Jacquet school of jazz, Hamilton sounds completely timeless on this summit meeting with guitarist Duke Robillard and a core team of Bruce Bears/p, Brad Hallen/b and Mzrk Teixeira/dr along with some swinging guests.
The two are tastier than a box of chocolates on the delightful “I Never Knew” , with Hamilton blowing smoky blue on “Never Mind”. The two stretch out on a Kansas City swinger take of “One O’Clock Jump” with Hamilton tapping into his inner Chu Berry and Robillard going for Chuck. Jon-Erik Kellso adds a plunging trumpet to Sugar Ray Norcia’s voice and some striding piano work for a festive “I’m Putting All My Eggs In One Basket” while Sunny Crownover casually coos to the Robillard’s bluesy strums on “Steady Daddy”. Timeless treasures abound.