Red Door: Remember Zoot Sims

by Scott Hamilton

Overview

As of 1998, when this CD was released, Scott Hamilton had recorded over 30 albums as a leader for Concord. Although all are quite worthwhile, the swing tenor's consistency and unchanged style since the 1970s have resulted in a certain sameness and predictability to his recordings. This release, however, definitely stands apart from the crowd, for it is a set of tenor/guitar duets that Hamilton performs with Bucky Pizzarelli. A tribute to Zoot Sims (one of Hamilton's early influences), this is a very successful outing. Pizzarelli's mastery of the seven-string guitar allows him to play basslines behind solos, so one never misses the other instruments. Although the duo performs a variety of standards, there are also some lesser-known pieces among the highlights including the title cut, Al Cohn's "Two Funky People," the Sims/Cohn collaboration "Morning Fun," and the obscure "In the Middle of a Kiss." Both Hamilton and Pizzarelli sound inspired in this format, stretching themselves while always swinging. Pizz had recorded a duo album with Sims back in 1973, and Zoot also cut a full set with guitarist Joe Pass a couple years later. This excellent, slightly offbeat outing is on the same level as those two and is highly recommended to fans of swinging mainstream jazz. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	09/15/1998
Label:	Concord Jazz
UPC:	0013431479925
Rank:	79189

Tracks

1. It Had to Be You
2. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You
3. The Red Door
4. Dream of You
5. Jitterbug Waltz
6. Two Funky People
7. Just You, Just Me
8. In the Middle of a Kiss
9. Morning Fun
10. It's All Right With Me

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Scott Hamilton   Primary Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Bucky Pizzarelli   Primary Artist,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)

Technical Credits

Andy Razaf   Composer
Isham Jones   Composer
Cole Porter   Composer
Edward Moran   Composer
Fats Waller   Composer
John Burk   Executive Producer
Zoot Sims   Composer
Scott Hamilton   Producer
Sam Coslow   Composer
Richard Maltby, Jr.   Composer
Jesse Greer   Composer
Jimmie Lunceford   Composer
Michael Morales   Composer
Raymond Klages   Composer
Al Cohn   Composer
Bucky Pizzarelli   Performer
Gerry Mulligan   Composer
Alan Varner   Engineer
Gus Kahn   Composer
Don Redman   Composer
Phil Edwards   Mixing,Assembly
George Horn   Mastering
Mary Peterson   Art Direction
Teri Bloom   Photography
Kathleen Vance   Production Manager
Chris Hilt   Assistant Engineer
Allen Farnham   Producer
Sy Oliver   Composer