Coleman Hawkins - Hawk & the Hunter - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Digitally remastered edition of this by the Jazz legend. Coleman Hawkins' the Hawk Swings is's set originally issued on Crown. It shows the pioneer of Jazz saxophone was as relevant in the early 1960s as he was in the '20s/'30s. High quality Hard Bop with a bluesy edge, this record features a line-up of musicians familiar to those who read the backs of Blue Note and Prestige LPs Ossie Johnson drums, Thad Jones on trumpet, George Duvivier on bass and the excellent Don Costa on piano and vibes. Boplicity.

Hawk Talk is a superbly rich and rich album. Hawkins displays a real sensitivity to classical music and, perhaps more than any other album, displays a variety of musical timbres. Highlights include the melancholic ballad InchLonely TenorInch and the sultry InchWhisper to MeInch.

The father of the jazz tenor saxophone, Coleman Hawkins influenced a whole generation of young sax giants and his influence is still strong today, some forty years after his passing. The rare sessions presented here were recorded in late 1953 for Chicago's Parrot tag, and although the information on these sessions are sketchy, it is believed that Hawk was accompanied by Leo Blevins on guitar and Les Strand on organ, with an unknown vocal group on a few of the selections. The drummer is thought to be Buddy Smith. These 12 sides for Parrot are one of his biggest bodies of work from this period, as it was a time of lowered exposure for Hawkins. Regardless of who accompanied Hawk on these recordings, his playing proves that he was in fine form. All selections newly remastered.