Scott Hamilton (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Scott Hamilton
Scott Hamilton performing in 2015
Background information
Born	(1954-09-12) September 12, 1954 (age 70) Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Genres	Jazz Swing music Straight-ahead jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Tenor saxophone
Years active	1970s–present
Associated acts	Gene Harris

Scott Hamilton (born September 12, 1954) is a famous American jazz musician. He is known for playing the tenor saxophone in a style that sounds like classic swing and straight-ahead jazz. This style of music was popular in the 1930s and 1940s, and Hamilton helped keep it alive for new generations.

His oldest son, Shō Īmura, is also a musician. He is the singer for the Japanese rock band Okamoto's.

Early Life and Start in Music

Scott Hamilton was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He didn't start playing music right away. He first picked up the tenor saxophone when he was sixteen years old. He quickly fell in love with the instrument and the classic sounds of jazz.

In 1976, when he was 22, Hamilton moved to New York City. This was a big step for his career. New York was a major center for jazz music, and it gave him the chance to play with some of the best musicians in the world.

Career Highlights

Scott Hamilton (right) with famous bassist Ray Brown in 1979.

Scott Hamilton playing his saxophone in Aarhus, Denmark, in 2018.

Soon after arriving in New York, Hamilton's talent was noticed. He got to play with legendary clarinetist and bandleader Benny Goodman. Most of the time, however, Hamilton led his own bands. He often worked with other talented musicians like trumpet players Ruby Braff and Warren Vache.

In 1977, he recorded his first album as a bandleader. That same year, he began a long partnership with Concord Records. He recorded many albums for them, both as a solo artist and as part of the Concord Jazz All Stars.

Working with Jazz Legends

For about ten years, Hamilton toured and recorded with the famous singer Rosemary Clooney. This experience helped him become even more well-known in the jazz world. He also worked with many other jazz greats throughout his career, learning from them and creating amazing music together.

Going Global

During the 1980s, Hamilton's music took him all over the world. He toured in Japan, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. He also performed at major jazz festivals, like the Grande Parade du Jazz in Nice, France.

In the 1990s, he moved to London, England. There, he formed a new quartet with British musicians John Pearce, Dave Green, and Steve Brown. He continued to tour and perform, sharing his classic jazz sound with audiences everywhere.

More recently, in 2013 and 2014, he collaborated with the young Spanish singer and trumpeter Andrea Motis and her mentor Joan Chamorro. This showed his dedication to working with musicians of all ages.

Selected Discography

Scott Hamilton has recorded over 50 albums as a leader. Here are a few notable ones from his long career:

• Scott Hamilton Is a Good Wind Who Is Blowing Us No Ill (1977)
• Tenorshoes (1980)
• The Second Set (1984)
• The Gene Harris/Scott Hamilton Quintet: At Last (1990)
• Scott Hamilton with Strings (1993)
• Organic Duke (1994)
• After Hours (1997)
• Back in New York (2005)
• Across the Tracks (2008)
• Swedish Ballads & More (2013)
• Street of Dreams (2019)
• Classics (2022)

He has also appeared as a guest musician, or "sideman," on dozens of albums with other artists, including Rosemary Clooney, Ray Brown, and Tony Bennett.

See also

In Spanish: Scott Hamilton para niños