Back in New York

1	What Is This Thing Called Love? / Scott Hamilton 7:17
2	Wonder Why / Scott Hamilton 8:26
3	Blue 'n' Boogie / Scott Hamilton 6:11
4	I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face / Scott Hamilton 5:14
5	Lullaby of the Leaves / Scott Hamilton 8:07
6	Fine and Dandy / Scott Hamilton 6:15
7	Bouncing With Bud / Scott Hamilton 5:53
8	Love Letters / Scott Hamilton 7:07
9	This Is Always / Scott Hamilton 5:41
10	I've Just Seen Her / Scott Hamilton 8:11

Barnes & Noble

Thirty years after unexpectedly emerging as the bright young hope for traditional jazz, tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton has matured into a master. He gets the royal treatment on this exceptional showcase for his fully developed horn conception by way of the Bill Charlap Trio, perhaps the finest piano trio in jazz today. With Charlap providing the saxophonist with sensitive and appropriate support at every turn -- not to mention some stunning keyboard solos -- and the boyant bounce of bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, Hamilton gets the ride of his life. There may be slight touches of bop in Hamilton’s style, but at heart he’s still enamored with swing stylists like Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, and Lester Young. Yet while Hamilton suggests these giants, he has found his own instrumental voice, one that evokes pleasure at every turn. Hamilton makes consistently fine albums; this one is among his very best. Steve Futterman

All Music Guide

Journeyman tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton keeps things light and swinging on Back in New York. Bringing to mind a mix of Dexter Gordon and Ben Webster, Hamilton has always displayed an unerring classicist aesthetic, and this album is no exception. Featuring the deft rhythm section of pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Kenny Washington, Back in New York is a template for what solid modern mainstream jazz should sound like. To these ends, Hamilton kicks things into gear with a sprightly take on "What Is This Thing Called Love," nudges his way through a tasty samba version of "Love Letters," and keeps thing warm and fuzzy on "This Is Always." Matt Collar