01. Best Things In Life Are Free (3:17)
02. I Must Have That Man (5:18)
03. Will You Still Be Mine (8:06)
04. How Am I To Know (3:04)
05. Don't Get Scared (4:50)
06. Ain't Nobody's Business (4:44)
07. We Will Be Together Again (5:28)
08. Sometimes I'm Happy (5:02)
09. What A Little Moonlight Can Do (4:29)
10. Shake It But Don't Break It (6:58)

Karin Krog (vocals)
Scott Hamilton (tenor saxophone)
Jan Lundgren (piano)
Hans Backenroth (bass)
Kristian Leth (drums)

The Norwegian singer Karin Krog has been a mainstay of the jazz scene for nearly sixty years working with most of the Scandinavian musician plus many American and UK musicians. She is a versatile vocalist not afraid to venture into uncharted waters.

It is many years now since Scott Hamilton burst upon the jazz scene as a young hopeful playing in the style of an older generation of tenor saxophone players. He has now developed a style that has taken on board all the better elements of the changes in the approach to the way the tenor saxophone has developed, he is now one of the best players around today playing in any style.

Led by pianist Jan Lundgren the accompanying trio is it gets, they have recently recorded on the Stunt label with tenor player Harry Allen producing a fine album. The album is based loosely on songs associated with singer Billie Holiday and Scott Hamilton is featured on a number of tracks with the rhythm section.

The opening track “The Best Things in Life are Free” is the only track on which singer Karin Krog shows any vulnerability in her delivery but as she is now in her seventy ninth year this can be expected but from there on in she is a perfect example of a jazz singer. Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields composition “I Must Have That Man” is as perfect as you can get with both Karin Krog and Scott Hamilton at the best with the number taken at a tempo which brings out the intricacies of the song. “Don’t Get Scared” is a vocalese version of the instrumental recording by Stan Getz and Lars Gullin which finds Karin Krog sounding uncannily like Annie Ross. On the quartet tracks Scott Hamilton produces his usual flawless playing backed by a superb trio. The little heard Errol Garner composition “Shake It, But Don’t Break It” is taken at the perfect tempo which brings out the best in Scott Hamilton and the rest of the group.

This is a great release and should be snapped up by any discerning buyer who is a lover of good singing or brilliant saxophone playing. --- Roy Booth, jazzviews.net

Scott Hamilton i Karin Krog to wielcy mistrzowie, przynależący raczej do minionej epoki, ze wszelkimi zapomnianymi jej walorami, z drugiej, są ciągle otwarci i nadal rozwijający się. Najlepszym tego dowodem jest dobór repertuaru do ich wspólnej płyty, zawiedzie sie ten, kto szuka znanych standardów. Scott Hamilton z Karin Krog i owszem, sięgają do przebogatej skarbnicy jazzowych szlagierów, ale raczej tych niedocenianych, pomijanych przez jazzowych wyjadaczy. Płyta 'The Best Things In Life' zalicza się do środka jazzu, wokół którego narosło wiele negatywnych stereotypów (fala przesłodzonych lub konwencjonalnych nagrań zalała rynek, niezasłużenie topiąc dobre imię gatunku). Należy jednak uprzedzić tych, którzy chcieliby skreślić ją z powodu gatunkowych uprzedzeń, że tym samym ryzykują przegapienie jednej z najpiękniejszych jazzowych płyt, jakie przyniósł 2015 rok. Scott Hamilton i Karin Krog imponują znakomitą techniką, a jednocześnie nie rażą mechaniczną, pustą wirtuozerią. Saksofonista wydobywa z tych utworów cały ich potencjał kolorystyczny. Norweska wokalistka zaśpiewała jazzowe pieśni w sposób bezpretensjonalny i ujmujący prostotą. Karin Krog nie wymyśla w nich prochu, ale też nie wyważa otwartych drzwi. Dzięki temu znajduje idealny balans między melancholią a bezpretensjonalną prostotą, nie popadając przy tym w tanią ilustracyjność. --- jazzsound.pl

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1 	That's All 	
2 	Indiana 	
3 	Stuffy 	
4 	Exactly Like You 	
5 	Ill Wind 	
6 	Broadway 	
7 	Blue Room 	
8 	Sometimes I'm Happy

Bass – Monty Budwig
Drums – Jake Hanna
Piano – Nat Pierce
Tenor Saxophone – Scott Hamilton
Trumpet – Bill Berry 

Tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton's debut for Concord (which has been reissued on CD) alerted the jazz world to the young swing stylist and predated Wynton Marsalis' first record (and the emergence of the Young Lions) by a couple years. Hamilton, who mixed together Zoot Sims and Ben Webster to form his own recognizable tone, already sounded in prime form for this set. Teamed up with trumpeter Bill Berry, pianist Nat Pierce, bassist Monty Budwig, and drummer Jake Hanna, Hamilton essentially launched the revival of mainstream jazz with this record. Highlights include "Indiana," "Stuffy," "Broadway," and "Blue Room," but all eight selections are quite enjoyable. ---Scott Yanow, AllMusic Review

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1. I'll Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her
2. Dream Dancing
3. 'Round Midnight
4. Two Eighteen
5. Laura
6. Maybe September
7. Emily
8. In A Sentimental Mood
9. A Beautiful Friendship
10. Body and Soul				       play
11. Embraceable You				play

Personnel: 
Scott Hamilton (tenor saxophone); 
John Bunch (piano); 
Phil Flanigan (bass); 
Chris Flory (guitar); 
Chuck Riggs (drums).

Its title accurately describes the romantic music on this CD. The warm tenor of Scott Hamilton (accompanied by pianist John Bunch, guitarist Chris Flory, bassist Phil Flanigan and drummer Chuck Riggs) brings out a great deal of beauty on 11 ballads, including his own "Two Eighteen" and a variety of veteran melodies. --- Scott Yanow, Rovi

I am not a regular listener of Jazz. While I have tried more modern Jazz styles from the likes of Parker, Coltrane and Miles Davis, I still much prefer the older offerings of musicians like Armstrong, Goodman, Basie and Miller.

I do love the sound of the saxaphone. No other instrument quite compares to being able to give forth a romantic or sensuous sound. It should be easy to find a Jazz cd which features the saxaphone for a nice, quiet romantic evening - or one would think. Unfortunately, to one such as I who is unfamiliar with most names in Jazz, this task had become one which was frustrating. I found compilations but nearly all of them had simply too much "funky bass" or up-tempo interruptions or too strong percussion. Some offered some fine tracks but then the musician decided to "impress" the listeners by launching into a "See how many notes I can play in one minute" routine.

I've spent alot of money and wasted alot of time trying to find that cd which is soft, unadorned, simple and romantic from beginning to end. Scott Hamilton Plays Ballads is the needle in a field of weeds for this listener. This is a great cd for that quiet evening at home with someone you love and while I would consider Dream Dancing to be a bit more up-tempo than I would have liked - given my lengthy search, it is but a minor distraction. Thank you Scott Hamilton! I do not know who comes up with all these compilation cd's of so-called "romance" but I am made to wonder if the compilers have actually ever been on a date. Scott Hamilton has been on a date! Hamilton knows!

I HIGHLY recommend this cd. Thank you once again, Mr. Hamilton and keep the ballads coming! ---amazon.com

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1. So Little Time
2. Royal Orchid Blues
3. With Every Breath I Take
4. Silk Stockings
5. Do I Love You (Because You Are Beautiful)
6. My Silent Love
7. Ham Fat
8. Tenderly						play

Musicians:
Scott Hamilton – tenor sax,
Jimmy Rowles - piano, 
Bob Maize, George Mraz - double-bass, 
Jake Hanna, Joe LaBarbera  - drums.

When Scott Hamilton appeared in the mid-'70s fully formed with an appealing swing style on tenor (mixing together Zoot Sims and Ben Webster), he caused a minor sensation, for few other young players during the fusion era were exploring pre-bop jazz at his high level. He began playing when he was 16 and developed quickly, moving to New York in 1976. Hamilton played with Benny Goodman in the late '70s, but he has mostly performed as a leader, sometimes sharing the spotlight with Warren Vache, Ruby Braff, Rosemary Clooney, the Concord Jazz All-Stars, or George Wein's Newport Jazz Festival All-Stars. Other than a few sessions for Famous Door and Progressive, Hamilton has recorded a long string of dates for Concord that are notable for their consistency and solid swing. ---Scott Yanow, allmusic.com

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01 – When You’re Smiling
02 – Foolin Myself
03 – Good Morning Heartache
04 – Them There Eyes
05 – Laughing At Life
06 – You’re My Thrill
07 – This Year’s Kisses
08 – God Bless The Child
09 – I’ll Never Be The Same
10 – If Dreams Come True

Musicians:
Scott Hamilton - tenor sax
Duke Robillard - acoustic guitar
Tim Ray - piano
Dave Zinno - bass
Jim Gwin – drums

The latest project of veteran jazz tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton has a slight contradictory tone: It’s an all-instrumental tribute to one of the greatest vocalists in jazz and pop, Billie Holiday. But when you make your sax sing the way Hamilton can, it totally works.

The session is overseen by in-demand guitarist/producer Duke Robillard. Fronting an acoustic piano trio, Hamilton’s lyrical sax creates a full sound that never loses sight of swing and blues traditions. The combo covers mainly Holiday’s pre-World War II-era songs including such classic standards as “Them There Eyes,” “God Bless the Child” and “Good Morning Heartache.”

With Hamilton blowing it hot, cool and sweet, the listener is in for a rare musical Holiday that expertly recalls Lady Day’s way with a song.--- Eric Feber, hamptonroads.com

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1 	I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me 	6:55
2 	Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams 	5:36
3 	I've Found A New Baby 	5:08
4 	When I Fall In Love 	5:46
5 	Whispering 	7:04
6 	Sultry Serenade 	6:36
7 	Stardust 	3:53
8 	One O'Clock Jump 	5:05
9 	After You've Gone 	5:00

Bass – Phil Flanigan
Clarinet – Eiji Kitamura
Drums – Chuck Riggs
Guitar – Chris Flory
Piano – John Bunch
Tenor Saxophone – Scott Hamilton

By 1983, Scott Hamilton had evolved from being a novelty (a young swing musician in the 1970s) to a solid part of the mainstream establishment. A certain excitement tended to be lacking from his performances (he never exploded like his idol Illinois Jacquet), and his predictable excellence was starting to be taken a bit for granted. This outing with guitarist Chris Flory, pianist John Bunch, bassist Phil Flanigan, and drummer Chuck Riggs (the first of two CDs) has the usual mixture of swinging medium-tempo tunes, warm ballads, and a couple of stomps ("I've Found a New Baby" and "One O'Clock Jump"). Well-played and enjoyable music with few surprises. ---Scott Yanow, AllMusic Review

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