Coleman Hawkins Rainbow Mist CD

This 1944 session is a hallmark album in jazz, considered by many to be the very first bebop recording. Most critics site the second track, "Woody'n You." For the first time, we hear Dizzy Gillespie in full bloom (not merely a disciple of Roy Eldridge). Indeed, there is a whiff of something new emanating from this music, and it probably comes from the meeting of the old guard (Hawkins) with the then burgeoning impresarios of jazz bassist Oscar Pettiford, drummer Max Roach, and of course, Dizzy. Other strongly bop-inflected tracks include "Salt Peanuts" and "Bu Dee Daht."

Hawk wanted to top himself on "Body & Soul," the tune that he had become so identified with. Whether or not he did is debatable. Nonetheless, the endearing legacy of RAINBOW MIST is the emergence of a whole new style of jazz, today known as bebop. An extra bonus: four tracks by Hawkins with fellow tenor men Ben Webster and Georgie Auld tagged onto the end of this CD.

w. Dizzy Gillespie, Ben Webster, Max Roach+ 1944

Recorded in New York, New York between February 16 and May 22, 1944. Includes liner notes by Dan Morgenstern.

This is part of Delmark's Apollo series.

Personnel: Coleman Hawkins (tenor saxophone); Hy White (guitar); Ben Webster (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Georgie Auld (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Musky Ruffo, Leonard Lowry, Gene Zanoni, Leo Parker (alto saxophone); Budd Johnson (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, brass); Don Byas, Irving Roth, Al Cohn, Ray Abrams (tenor saxophone); Dizzy Gillespie, Howard McGhee, Ed Van Dever, George Schwartz, Vic Coulson, Manny Fox, Sonny Berman, Charlie Shavers (trumpet); Jerry Dorn, Rudy DeLuca, Bobby Lord (trombone); Clyde Hart, Billy Rowland, Harry Biss, Israel Crosby (piano); Lou Fromm, Max Roach, Specs Powell (drums).

Liner Note Author: Dan Morgenstern.

Recording information: New York, NY (02/16/1944-05/22/1944).

Photographer: George Fletcher.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Roger Seibel; Dave Jones ; Paul Underwood; Jerry Dorn; Jack Towers; Harry Bliss; Randy Kling.

Personnel: Coleman Hawkins (tenor saxophone); Kay Little (vocals); Georgie Auld (soprano, alto & tenor saxophones); Leo Parker, Leonard Lowry, Musky Ruffo, Gene Zanomi (alto saxophone); Budd Johnson (tenor & baritone saxophones); Ben Webster (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Don Byas, Ray Abrams, Al Cohn, Irv Roth (tenor saxophone); Irv Green (baritone saxophone); Dizzy Gillespie, Vic Coulson, Ed Vandever, Charlie Shavers, Sonny Berman, Manny Fox, Howard McGhee, George Schwartz (trumpet); Rudy DeLuca, Jerry Dorn, Bobby Lord (trombone); Clyde Hart, Bill Rowland, Harry Biss (piano); Hy White (guitar); Oscar Pettiford, Israel Crosby, Morris Rayman (bass); Max Roach, Specs Powell, Lou Fromm (drums).

Down Beat (3/93, p.44) - 5 Stars - Excellent - "...Among the most important dates ever recorded by the Apollo label...this was the then-and-future reigning tenorman's most productive period...Best Reissue Of 1992..."