DOUBLE BILL!! Scott Hamilton Quartet & Matt Dusk
Scott emerged in the 1970s and at the time he was considered to be one of the few musicians of real talent who carried the tradition of the classic jazz tenor saxophone in the style of Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins as well as Zoot Sims and Don Byas forward. He began playing in various rhythm & blues outfits in Providence (Rhode Island), but subsequently shifted to jazz and the tenor saxophone. In 1976 he moved to New York City at, in part the recommendation of Roy Eldridge. He there joined Benny Goodman for a period of time. During this time, he also developed an alcohol problem.,[1] In the early 1980's he had formed his own quintet and toured all over the world. By then free from his drinking habit, in 1982 he had matured sufficiently to be able to break away from the spell of mainly Ben Webster and Zoot Sims, of whom he had been criticized of imitating. From this point on both his playing and his tone was very much his own.
Living in New York City, he toured all around the world during the 1980's, playing Japan and all over Europe. He was in particular a recurrent visitor to the UK, Sweden and the Grand Parade du Jazz, held in Nice, France. By the early 1990's he was ready for a next step and by 1994 when he released Organic Duke, he had developed a quite singular style: a large, well rounded but still focused tone and improvising, ostensibly still based on the swing idiom (especially Ellington), but incorporating more modern elements. During this period, he relocated to London, and formed his current quartet, featuring John Pearce, Dave Green and Steve Brown. He is currently active touring all over Europe.
He has had over forty albums as a lead most on the Concord Records label.
Matt Dusk
The 27-year-old crooner already had a sensational major-label debut under his belt with 2004’s Two Shots, which was partially recorded at London’s famous Abbey Road Studios with a 42-piece string section from the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Go big or go home. That might’ve been Matt Dusk’s mantra as he contemplated the making of his second album. With impeccable taste to match his formidable talent, Dusk knows that style and sophistication—in everything from song selections and studio choices—are important factors that contribute to successful recordings.
With Back in Town, the Toronto-born Dusk pulled out all the stops. First, he recorded much of the album in Los Angeles, at the fabled Capitol Studio in Studio A—where the walls have resonated with the voices of singers such as Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Ella Fitzgerald. Then, as if that magical setting wasn’t enough, several renowned arrangers including Patrick Williams and Sammy Nestico were brought in to provide original arrangements for classic numbers like “More” and “As Time Goes By.” On top of that, the legendary Al Schmitt, winner of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy Awards, recorded and mixed all of the album’s big band tracks.
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