Search - Coleman Hawkins :: Timeless Coleman Hawkins

Mesmerizing

David Saemann | 03/29/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is somewhat of a mixed bag, but it does feature very strong performances by Hawkins. Three of the tracks feature a big band with Hawkins solos. The band is arranged and conducted by Billy Ver Planck, and sounds cool and beautifully laid out. Hawkins's solos are marvelous, always in character and full of nuance. The sound on these three tracks is very good 1958 stereo, recorded by the legendary Rudy Van Gelder. The other tracks are more of a problem. They were all recorded in monaural in Chicago in 1954 on one day. Of Hawkins's back up musicians, only the drummer is credited. Some of the tracks feature piano, and these are the main problem. The sound here is congested, although Hawkins comes through clearly enough, while the piano sounds twangy. The remaining tracks are with organ, and these feature decent sound. On all these tracks, Hawkins is in stellar form, commanding in his improvisation. If you can overlook the drawbacks of this production, it is highly rewarding Coleman Hawkins."