Search - Coleman Hawkins :: In Europe 1934-1939

Wonderful early Hawkins

Johnny Hodges | 03/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This may be a first-choice CD to get of early Hawkins. The tracks are taken from his Europe years in the early-mid 1930s, just before his more famous recording of Body And Soul. In these recordings, he was playing for the most part in the company of less-than-genius but thoroughly competent musicians who were perfectly willing to let him take center stage. There is a good variety of groupings, including 4 tracks with Django Reinhardt in the ensemble (great silky version of Stardust). The sound-quality is outstanding, as to be expected with all John R.T. Davies remasterings (e.g. JSP recordings of early Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton, which are must-haves). For the most listenable early Hawkins available, try this."

Great but flawed Hawk recording

Johnny Hodges | Clark Fork, ID United States | 05/15/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There's something about these sessions: Hawk seems relaxed and happy in the admiring and non-competive environment of Hawk's European sabbatical. 78 record transcription sound is below par, but the music is good enough to overcome that in most cases. It is unfortunate that the producer chose to include 4 tracks (9-12) of what he himself in the liner notes refers to as a poorly recorded (amen!) Swiss session. The upside for fans is Hawk SINGS(!) on "Love Cries". Don't start here if you're not a fan, but if you are, this presents yet another side of the tenor god. Mostly swing renditions of standards. The last two tracks smoke like crazy.



Update: just got the 4CD boxed set The Essential Sides 1929-1939, which contains all this material and a great deal more for just a few dollar$ more."