Coleman Hawkins

• LIVING SOUND FIDELITY

• ORIGINAL SOUND & DESING

• 4 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE

On October 16, 1957, one of the great studio sessions of the decade took place in Capitol’s famous studios in Hollywood. The brilliant tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins spent much of the day and evening in the studios recording two separate albums with producer Norman Granz for Verve Records: The Genius Of Coleman Hawkins and Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster.

The 52-year-old Hawkins was there, working with pianist Oscar Peterson’s regular trio of Herb Ellis (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), and drummer Alvin Stoller. The musicians recorded twelve songs that were released in the aptly named The Genius Of Coleman Hawkins.

By the evening, Hawk and the other musicians were joined by 48-year-old Ben Webster, and the result was Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster. It’s a jazz masterclass. All seven numbers are standards, but this is no mere run through of tried and tested songs — these are some of the most beautiful versions of these songs ever committed to vinyl.

PERSONNEL:

• Coleman Hawkins - (tenor sax)
• Ben Webster - (tenor sax)
• Oscar Peterson - (piano)
• Herb Ellis - (guitar)
• Ray Brown - (bass)
• Alvin Stoller - (drums)

Hollywood, October 16, 1957

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. Blues For Yolande
• A2. It Never Entered My Mind
• A3. Rosita

• SIDE B
• B1. You'd Be Nice To Come Home To
• B2. Prisoner Of Love
• B3. Tangerine
• B4. Shine On Harvest Moon