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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Rob
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This CD was reviewed by Dave Gelly in Jazz Journal in May 2011 and I missed the review but recently discovered this CD. He calls this a classic and it certainly is.
Scott Hamilton used to be one of the new young tenor players who embraced the music of such giants as Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Don Byas, Buddy Tate etc. He was a good player in the early days - now he is a great tenor saxophone player with a wonderful tone, great melodic ideas and a moving subtlety which as Dave Gelly says can be "heartbreaking". Maturity has raised him to the level of greatness.
Rossano Sportiello is a wonderful young piano player with a great technique and a feeling for the music of the that generation of players which included Teddy Wilson, Fats Waller, Art Tatum etc. He has a beautiful delicate touch a la Bill Evans and impeccable timing.
Together these musicians have created an intimate, moving recital of some of the underrated songs of the great American Composers and Songwriters - in this instance people like Sammy Cahn,Rodgers and Hart and Sam Coslow.
It has long been an annoyance to me that many jazz musicians do not embrace some of the lesser known works of the great American Songwriters and rely on the same familiar ballads, great though they may be. There is a treasure trove of beautiful music out there waiting to be played and as an amateur clarinet and tenor saxophone player I try to bring this music to life if only for my own enjoyment.
Scott and Rossano along with the pianist Keith Ingham and another great tenor player Harry Allen are keeping the torch alight for some beautiful music. Thank you for a wonderful musical experience. Don't miss out on this CD.
Scott Hamilton used to be one of the new young tenor players who embraced the music of such giants as Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Don Byas, Buddy Tate etc. He was a good player in the early days - now he is a great tenor saxophone player with a wonderful tone, great melodic ideas and a moving subtlety which as Dave Gelly says can be "heartbreaking". Maturity has raised him to the level of greatness.
Rossano Sportiello is a wonderful young piano player with a great technique and a feeling for the music of the that generation of players which included Teddy Wilson, Fats Waller, Art Tatum etc. He has a beautiful delicate touch a la Bill Evans and impeccable timing.
Together these musicians have created an intimate, moving recital of some of the underrated songs of the great American Composers and Songwriters - in this instance people like Sammy Cahn,Rodgers and Hart and Sam Coslow.
It has long been an annoyance to me that many jazz musicians do not embrace some of the lesser known works of the great American Songwriters and rely on the same familiar ballads, great though they may be. There is a treasure trove of beautiful music out there waiting to be played and as an amateur clarinet and tenor saxophone player I try to bring this music to life if only for my own enjoyment.
Scott and Rossano along with the pianist Keith Ingham and another great tenor player Harry Allen are keeping the torch alight for some beautiful music. Thank you for a wonderful musical experience. Don't miss out on this CD.
By Susan C
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Rossano Sportiello and Scott Hamilton - wonderful combination, great choice of music, two of my favourite musicians, what more can you ask?
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
4 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
How Could It Not Be The Best
19 Aug 2011
By John C. Graham
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
This one accompanied me to little Lake Francis which is located just outside of Owen Sound Ontario. With headphones comfortably covering my ears, I would sit on the recliner and watch the sun set while enjoying a cold beer. Relaxation enveloped my very being when I heard the first intro from Rossano Sportiello on Khan and Brodsky's 'Wonder Why'and didn't let up until Sam Coslow's 'In The Middle Of A Kiss' finished playing, ending the disc. After ten or so evenings of close listening I was still hungry for this duo's imaginative interpretation of the American songbook. The music you will hear on this disc is simply gorgeous.
Rossano Sportiello is, in my mind, is one of the finest pianists to come along in decades. He plays everything from early stride to modern mainstream and classical seemingly without effort. On this duet recording he proves to be an ideal partner, adding sincere eloquence in all the right places. His pianistic touch is a thing of beauty, rare and dignified, already unique and fully formed although he is still relatively young. He is special.
Scott Hamilton has been playing at a consistantly high level for some time now. Whether leading his own quartet or guesting with others, his playing never fails to surprise and delight the listener. He would sit in with first generation jazzmen like Buddy Tate when he was still a teenager, unable to read music yet learning the art of jazz on the bandstand, the way previous generations did. He was first choice tenor player for Ruby Braff and recorded many wonderful sessions with him. There is nobody like Scott Hamilton. He's already in the record books.
To conclude, this is an absolutely wonderful example of the delicate art of jazz, played by two of the finest jazz musicians anywhere or at anytime.
* I'd love to hear these guys with a rhythm section kickin' it
Rossano Sportiello is, in my mind, is one of the finest pianists to come along in decades. He plays everything from early stride to modern mainstream and classical seemingly without effort. On this duet recording he proves to be an ideal partner, adding sincere eloquence in all the right places. His pianistic touch is a thing of beauty, rare and dignified, already unique and fully formed although he is still relatively young. He is special.
Scott Hamilton has been playing at a consistantly high level for some time now. Whether leading his own quartet or guesting with others, his playing never fails to surprise and delight the listener. He would sit in with first generation jazzmen like Buddy Tate when he was still a teenager, unable to read music yet learning the art of jazz on the bandstand, the way previous generations did. He was first choice tenor player for Ruby Braff and recorded many wonderful sessions with him. There is nobody like Scott Hamilton. He's already in the record books.
To conclude, this is an absolutely wonderful example of the delicate art of jazz, played by two of the finest jazz musicians anywhere or at anytime.
* I'd love to hear these guys with a rhythm section kickin' it
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
just gets better and better
19 April 2012
By Sally Draper
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have a lot of Scott Hamilton CDs, and this one is one of two duets (the other being with Bucky Pizzarelli's wonderful guitar). This one with Rossano Sportiello's piano is an absolute delight. The only song I had to get used to over a handful of playings is "This Can't Be Love," because the stride piano seemed heavy at first. Now it sounds just right. There is no song on here that isn't a gem. My favorites are the first two, "Wonder Why," and "A Garden in the Rain." I'm at the point in my listening where I play this CD every day. These two men play like they've played together for decades. I've never heard piano like Sportiello, and each song amazes me. Hamilton's sax is fuller than some earlier CDs, and there are a lot of fluffy finishes, which I had to get used to also, but now as I listen, both instruments sound so good together. Having said how good the CD is, I have to weigh in on the liner notes by Nat Hentoff, who truly is the dean of jazz critics, but the insertion of political opines was off. I'm sure he wanted to give context to his feelings about the songs, but the mix was irritating. I would feel the same way were he a yellow dog Democrat or a stiff Republican rather than a libertarian. Note to Nat: next time you want to "not play too many notes," please write that part first and follow what it says. Dizzy would be proud.
4.0 out of 5 stars
melodic line - swinging duo with rich sound
13 July 2012
By rash67
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
You know, I just love the melodic line. I love it when players with great tone follow it: Stan Getz played it, Ben Webster, Chet Baker, Hank Mobley, early Miles Davis, etc. It's not playing a lot of notes that matters, it's how you play them and knowing which ones can be left out and which ones count.
I am, in general, somewhat reluctant to buy CD's with only sax and piano and not a four or five man ensemble. But I should not have been so here. "Midnight at Nola's Penthouse", like two guys having a good time playing after closing time. Scott Hamilton and Rossano Sportiello do a great job of making a rich sound without the missing rhythm section. Well miked. The sound & the image are plenty full. As a piano playing friend pointed out to me once, the piano is a percussive instrument(!)
Hamilton/Sportiello pick a good mix of swing, blues, andante tempos and up-tempo tunes and Hamilton plays them with his characteristic sensitivity and breathy Ben Webster/Stan Getz influenced tone. Happy, sad. He continues to be the Currently reigning King of Cool Jazz. They do a good job of listening to each other and playing off each other.
I particularly like the heartfelt ballads "A Garden in the Rain" and "All my Tenderness" & "Come Back to Sorrento" which starts as a ballad and moves into swing.
4 1/2 stars on my ultra tough grading system.
I am, in general, somewhat reluctant to buy CD's with only sax and piano and not a four or five man ensemble. But I should not have been so here. "Midnight at Nola's Penthouse", like two guys having a good time playing after closing time. Scott Hamilton and Rossano Sportiello do a great job of making a rich sound without the missing rhythm section. Well miked. The sound & the image are plenty full. As a piano playing friend pointed out to me once, the piano is a percussive instrument(!)
Hamilton/Sportiello pick a good mix of swing, blues, andante tempos and up-tempo tunes and Hamilton plays them with his characteristic sensitivity and breathy Ben Webster/Stan Getz influenced tone. Happy, sad. He continues to be the Currently reigning King of Cool Jazz. They do a good job of listening to each other and playing off each other.
I particularly like the heartfelt ballads "A Garden in the Rain" and "All my Tenderness" & "Come Back to Sorrento" which starts as a ballad and moves into swing.
4 1/2 stars on my ultra tough grading system.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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