Coleman Hawkins - Hawk Flies High (6 tracks) +Album Reviews

Full-Bodied, Rich, and Mellow

David Conklin | Albuquerque, NM USA | 01/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Newly re-mastered, this 2008 Keepnews Collection CD comes up sounding fuller and more life-like than the original "first generation" OJC disc. Often described as a comeback album for Coleman Hawkins, it features the leader's fine hand-picked lineup in a truly one-of-a kind (1957) recording.

The arrangements in all 6 tracks provide pleasing sonorities among the 3 horns, and there are many tasteful solos. I find J.J Johnson's trombone work especially enjoyable. Hank Jones on piano, Oscar Pettiford on bass, Jo Jones, on drums-are you kidding me? This is easily one of the best Coleman Hawkins CDs available. No alternate takes or bonus tracks, just the original album in great sound. Like a fine wine, THE HAWK FLIES HIGH gets better with age--and repeat listens."

I'm flicking my Bic

Matthew Watters | Vietnam | 03/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Before there was rock-and-roll, there was Coleman Hawkins. Don't be fooled by the deceptively mellow, laid-back demeanor of this LP. Perhaps no other jazz CD I own benefits more from being CRANKED UP. At live volumes, this music rocks as well as swings, and you can really hear Hawkins bending the notes and finding all the blues harmonics in the material. He's like the godfather of heavy metal guitarists. Sure, it's a different axe, but the seeds of the musical approach are there. I kid you not: get ahold of The Hawk Flies High and turn it up! (If you do, you'll also be treated to a sonic veil being removed from the work of drummer Jo Jones and bassist Oscar Pettiford, both of whom are lost at more demure volumes, and the great presence and bite in the trombone of J.J. Johnson.)"

Surprisingly Bland

Johnny Hodges | Clark Fork, ID United States | 06/15/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I find this a pleasant group effort, but to my ears the music wanders, lacking the focused solid groove featured on many Coleman Hawkins recordings. Very egalitarian of him to let all the band members solo, but Hawk is silent while that goes on. Idries Sulieman blowing a single trumpet note for a full minute is not my idea of great music.

I'm a big fan of Coleman Hawkins, but I sold my copy of "Flies". Some of my favorite Hawk: Retrospective (1929-1963) for a good overview of His early work, Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster for a compellingly romantic session, and Night Hawk for an exciting session with another protege, Eddie Lockjaw Davis."

One of my favorite Jazz CDs

Roger Berlind | NY, USA | 01/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is definitely one of my favorite Jazz albums in my collection of over 200 Jazz CDs. It is a terrific ensemble of 7 great instrumentalists. It is true, as one reviewer objected, that Hawkins gives equal solo time to the other soloists, but I think that this is exactly what makes this album so special. It combines great ensemble writing with excellent solos. All 6 pieces pulse with abundant energy and style. I especially like the 2 longer pieces, "Juicy Fruit" and "Sancticity" that clock in at 11 and 9 minutes respectively. But the shorter pieces are also great. "Chant" and "Blue Lights" are both funky. "Think Deep" has a haunting melody that makes me think of film noire movies. This is followed by "Laura" which actually is from a film noire film of the same title.

"Juicy Fruit" has an incredible 1 minute note held by trumpeter Idrees Sulieman which he follows up with a wonderfully inventive solo; no mean feat! I was so impressed by his solo that I looked for other CDs by or with him and purchased "Now is the Time" (1976) which he headlined and "The Cats" (1957) which was another ensemble project headlined by Tommy Flanagan, John Coltrane, Kenny Burrell, and Sulieman; this was recorded just one month after "The Hawk Flies High". These are also very good CDs. Sulieman also has other exciting solos throughout the album.

Hawkins sounds great in his solos on all 6 pieces despite the fact that he had been playing since the 1920s. But age is no detriment to great musicians; I recently heard Sonny Rollins at his 50th anniversary Carnegie Hall concert when he was over 80 and still sounded great. Sonny also sounds great on his recent "Sonny, Please" album. Wayne Shorter is another saxophonist still releasing albums in the past few years despite having started in the 1960s.

J.J. Johnson also delivers some nice solos and blends in well with Hawkins and Sulieman in the ensemble sections. The rhythm section of Oscar Pettiford, Hank Jones, Jo Jones, and Barry Galbraith maintains a steady vibe throughtout the entire album.

Note that this review is based on the 1987 version of the CD. Riverside released a new remastering by the original producer, Orrin Keepnews, in 2008. I have not yet heard that new version. One reviewer indicated that it sounds fuller and more life-like than the original CD."

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	Coleman Hawkins Hawk Flies High Genres: Jazz, Pop Track Listings (6) - Disc #1 Chant - Coleman Hawkins, Jones, Hank [Piano] Juicy Fruit - Coleman Hawkins, Sulieman, Idrees Think Deep - Coleman Hawkins, Smith, William [11] Laura - Coleman Hawkins, Mercer, Johnny Blue Lights - Coleman Hawkins, Gryce, Gigi Sancticity - Coleman Hawkins, Hawkins, Coleman
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