by Ken Dryden Scott Hamilton is in top form during this live date recorded at London's Pizza Express Jazz Club. Hamilton is always a masterful improviser who logically builds upon the foundation of each piece. Accompanied by a swinging English rhythm section consisting of pianist John Pearce, bassist Dave Green, and drummer Steve Brown, the veteran tenor saxophonist offers a diverse set, beginning with Tadd Dameron's snappy "The Squirrel." He easily switches gears for lush treatments of "When Your Lover Has Gone" and "When I Fall in Love." Irving Berlin's "Easter Parade" is hardly common fare for jazz musicians, but Hamilton recognizes timeless melodies and offers a swinging rendition. The one unfamiliar piece is "Licks," a composition by Green which salutes the recordings that Lucky Thompson made with Oscar Pettiford during the 1950s. Highly recommended.