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Coleman Hawkins: The High and Mighty Hawk

By Samuel Chell
June 29, 2010
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Coleman Hawkins: The High and Mighty Hawk

Recorded in England in 1958, this little-known session, originally released on the obscure Felsted label, is an inarguable gem. Perhaps even the word "masterpiece" is not too much of a stretch. It's doubtful that the putative "father of the tenor saxophone," Coleman Hawkins, made a better recording in the age of long-playing records, and it's just as unlikely that a better example of the impeccable touch and melodic inventiveness of the prolific

Hank Jones

piano
1918 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Hank Jones can be found on any other recording featuring the versatile, style-resistant pianist.

Jazz history books frequently use Hawkins to exemplify the "harmonic" approach to improvisation which, unlike the "melodic" approach of

Lester Young

saxophone
1909 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Lester Young, is exhaustive in its arpeggiating the chords of a song, outlining them moreover in a regular "trochaic" rhythm (heavy/light stress) that practically replicates the drummer's work on the ride cymbal. There's little better evidence of this approach than on the opening "Bird of Prey Blues," a blues during which Hawkins locks in tight with the rhythm section and, without letting up on the accelerator, drives hard through 18 relentlessly virile choruses in the key of G.

Every bit as impressive are Jones' two solo spots: first, two seducing choruses that are warm and inviting, then following Hawkins with a second seven-bar stretch, a reminder that the late piano giant could be no less inspired than tasteful. Perhaps even more dazzling is his support of the soloists—minimalist whole-note chords behind the active Hawkins, block-chorded descending riffs during the more conservative trumpet playing of

Buck Clayton

trumpet
1911 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Buck Clayton, then

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie plinks followed by perfectly placed nudges, during a characteristically muscular

Ray Brown

bass, acoustic
1926 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Brown bass solo.

Collectors who have waited until mid-summer 2010 to acquire this digitally remastered edition will be doubly rewarded. A session recorded the previous week—with swing era trumpet star

Roy Eldridge

trumpet
1911 - 1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Roy Eldridge and the redoubtable bassist

George Duvivier

bass
b.1920

" data-original-title="" title="">George Duvivier—has been included with the featured date. Taken together, the sessions offer a contrast between the fiery Eldridge and the resourceful Clayton that's somewhat reminiscent of

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker's two quintets, one featuring the pyrotechnical

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie and the other a reserved

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis.

More importantly, the pianist on both of the present sessions remains the same. In fact, Miles Davis' lavish praise of Jones, as reported in the liner notes for a renowned album of the same year—

Cannonball Adderley

saxophone
1928 - 1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Cannonball Adderley's Somethin' Else (Blue Note, 1958)—might be even more applicable to The High and Mighty Hawk, with music that is no less exceptional, despite featuring players whose reputations had been established almost 30 years earlier. Now, more than 50 years later, it glistens with unflagging freshness, swing, and vitality.

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Track Listing

Bird of Prey Blues; My One and Only Love; Vignette; Ooh-Wee, Miss G.P.!; You've Changed; Get Set; Sunday; Hanid; Honey Flower; Honey Flower [alternate take]; Nabob.

Personnel

Coleman Hawkins

saxophone, tenor

Coleman Hawkins: tenor sax; Buck Clayton: trumpet (1-7); Hank Jones: piano; Mickey Sheen: drums; Ray Brown: bass (1-7); Roy Eldridge: trumpet (8-11); George Duvivier: bass (8-11).

Album information

Title: The High and Mighty Hawk | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Poll Winners Records

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