He 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 (p), Dave Green (b) and Steve Brown (dr). He is currently active touring all over Europe.
He has had over forty albums as a lead most on the Concord Records label.
Autumn Leaves
Scott Hamilton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
The lyrics of Scott Hamilton's song "Autumn Leaves" evoke feelings of melancholy and nostalgia. The image of falling leaves drifting by a window creates a visual and auditory image of the changing seasons. The leaves are described as having colors of red and gold, which are colors typically associated with fall. The next line creates a contrast to the season by reminiscing about summer kisses and sun-burned hands, highlighting the idea of change and the passing of time.
The song's refrain then repeats the idea of missing someone and feeling the sadness and longing that comes with separation. The line "when autumn leaves start to fall" is a metaphor for the passing of time and the inevitability of change. In the following verses, the lyrics shift to French and convey similar themes of love and loss. The idea of separation is expressed more strongly, with the metaphor of the sea erasing the steps of lovers who are no longer together.
Overall, "Autumn Leaves" is a song that captures the bittersweet emotions that come with the changing of the seasons and the passing of time. The lyrics explore themes of love and loss, and the metaphor of falling leaves serves as a reminder of our mortality and the constant cycle of life.
Line by Line Meaning
The falling leaves drift by the window
The leaves, now dislodged from their branches, move in the wind and hover by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
The leaves, though falling, are still beautiful with red and gold colors
I see your lips, the summer kisses
I still remember the warmth of your kisses during summer
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
I miss holding your hands that were sun-kissed from our summer adventures
Since you went away the days grow long
The days feel longer and emptier without you by my side
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
The colder season is coming and I will be reminded of your absence even more
But I miss you most of all my darling
Even with the changing seasons, I still miss you the most
When autumn leaves start to fall
The fall season seems to emphasize my loneliness and remind me of our time together
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
This is a song that resonates with our experience
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
You loved me and I loved you
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
We were both living together at the time
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
We had a mutual love for each other
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
Unfortunately, life has a way of separating even those who love each other
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Without much announcement or warning
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
Like how the waves wash away the imprints of lovers' feet on the sand
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@guitargod6997
Excellent transcription of this gorgeous playing by Scott Hamilton. I grew up in his home city and first heard him when he was in his late teens. The minute I heard Scott's playing I just knew he was the real deal, and he sounded like this at that age! He has only become even more refined like a fine wine.
@charleswalter3075
Ivan, thank you for these great transcriptions with YouTubes. They're such a gift. Scott Hamilton is an excellent player, and IMO, his solos are really good for an intermediate player.
@bobgreen1236
One of the things I LOVE about Scott is his sense of MELODY....there are so many guys I hear that, by the second or third chorus, are just spraying notes all over the place, a million miles per hour. Gets tiring to listen to pretty fast......
@landocycle
couldn't agree more.
@Jack-xb9ld
I found the transcription of this from a few years ago, and I played through it and I thought [wow, this is pretty simple solo]. Then I listened to Scott playing it, and it made me realise just how much is down to the player and not the notes. His delivery is soooooo good.
@pierre79848
Excellent hamilton vraiment dans le style. J'adore.
@wpdubose3
Thank you very, very much fo this and all your other excellent transcriptions. I am finding them to be enromously helpful as I continue my work and study to be better sax player. Wishing you all the best! Let's keep playing those changes.
@pinturero1968
Hi, ivan, It is very generous on your part to do this job. I've discovered your channel yesterday and you've given me a reason to go on studying and practising since I felt stuck without making any progress. You've got a friend here! ;-) Thank you very much
@arjunappel4862
An amazing transcription, couldn’t thank you more
@glenfordtanwing5085
Or my what a solo this man has it going on that tenor brilliant 💯💯💯💯💯💯🎶🎼❤️❤️