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.
I'll Remember April
Scott Hamilton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had
Alone where we have walked together
I'll remember April and be glad
I'll be content you loved me once in April
Your lips were warm and love and spring were new
I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow
The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes
For flames live such a little while
I won't forget but I won't be lonely
I'll remember April and smile
The lyrics to Scott Hamilton's song "I'll Remember April" depict a bittersweet nostalgia for a past love and the changing seasons. The opening lines set the scene of a beautiful day turning into evening, symbolizing the passing of time. The phrase "We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had" suggests a farewell to a relationship that once brought joy and happiness. The sense of solitude is emphasized in the line "Alone where we have walked together," evoking a feeling of loss and longing.
The singer then reflects on their past love, finding solace in the memories of April. The mention of April represents a time of renewal and new beginnings, where their love was once vibrant and alive. The lyrics convey a sense of gratitude for having experienced that love, with the singer being content that they were loved during that special time. They are unafraid of autumn and its sorrow, as they will always cherish the memories of April and the person they were with.
The final stanza evokes a sense of acceptance and moving on. The fire, which symbolizes passion and love, is described as dwindling into glowing ashes, signifying its transient nature. The singer acknowledges that they won't forget the love they shared, but they won't be lonely either. The memories of April will bring a smile to their face, suggesting that despite the inevitable changes and endings, the beauty of those memories will always remain.
Line by Line Meaning
This lovely day will lengthen into evening
The joy and brightness of this current phase of our relationship will eventually fade away as time passes.
We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had
We will sadly bid farewell to the memories and experiences we shared together.
Alone where we have walked together
In moments of solitude, I will recall the places we used to visit and reminisce about our shared journeys.
I'll remember April and be glad
Despite the eventual end of our love, I will hold onto the memories of our time together in April with contentment and happiness.
I'll be content you loved me once in April
I will find solace and satisfaction in knowing that at one point, you loved me during the month of April.
Your lips were warm and love and spring were new
During that time, your affectionate gestures and kisses were full of warmth and passion, symbolizing the blossoming of love and the arrival of spring.
I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow
I am not scared of facing the melancholy and sadness that comes with the end of a relationship, represented by the season of autumn.
For I'll remember April and you
Because I will forever hold in my heart the memories of our time together in April and the presence of your love.
The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes
The passionate flame between us will eventually fade and transform into a gentle ember, slowly losing its intensity.
For flames live such a little while
Passionate flames of love can only burn brightly for a short period of time before diminishing.
I won't forget but I won't be lonely
I will always remember our time together, but I will not allow myself to succumb to loneliness or despair.
I'll remember April and smile
When I think back on our moments in April, I will wear a smile on my face as I cherish the happiness we once shared.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON RAYE, GENE DE PAUL, PATRICIA JOHNSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind