The Three Swinging Tenors

The Franco-American line-up of the Three Swinging Tenors keeps alive the tradition of the Texas school of tenor saxophone, once championed by players of the calibre of Herschel Evans, Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet and Buddy Tate.

This formidable front line brings together Scott Hamilton, who has forged his own distinctive style from the influences of Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young and Ben Webster; Harry Allen, his talented younger counterpart, whom Hamilton himself inspired; and Michel Pastre, another undisputed master of the instrument, who brought this powerhouse triumvirate together.

This dazzling team is backed by a first-rate rhythm section featuring the outstanding and inventive Philippe Milanta on piano, Bruno Rousselet on double bass, a steadfast guardian of the beat, and Philippe Maniez on drums, always attentive to his fellow musicians and laying down a rock-solid, metronomic pulse.

The album captures performances recorded at Le Duc des Lombards in Paris and in Tarnos during the band’s French tour in March 2026. The programme features some of the great hits associated with Illinois Jacquet (Flying Home) and Arnett Cobb (Smooth Sailing), both guaranteed to set the swing in motion, alongside some beautifully rendered ballads, played with sensitivity and restraint (Blue and Sentimental).

Fueled by such irresistible swing, tradition is no mere echo of the past: far from the ashes of bygone days, it keeps the eternal flame of jazz burning bright.

The booklet accompanying this fine Camille Productions release provides the identity of the soloist on each of the album’s nine tracks.