Coleman Hawkins Timeless CD

Live Recording

Personnel includes: Coleman Hawkins (tenor saxophone); Billy Ver Planck (arranger); Marshall Royal, Frank Wess (alto saxophone); Frank Foster (tenor saxophone); Charlie Fowlkes (baritone saxophone); Nat Pierce (piano); Freddie Green (guitar); Eddie Jones (bass); Bobby Donaldson (drums).
Recorded in Chicago, Illinois and Hackensack, New Jersey in 1954 & 1958. Includes liner notes by Bill Milkowski.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
This is part of Savoy's Timeless series.
This Savoy jazz compilation features previously issued tracks by saxophone great Coleman Hawkins. While this is a nice single-disc budget collection of Hawkins in the mid-'50s, it by no means represents the scope of his career. Collectors need not bother. ~ Matt Collar
One of seemingly dozens of reissues dating from Coleman Hawkins' glory days, 2002's TIMELESS collects recording sessions done with minor bands of the late '30s through the mid '40s, after Hawkins's half decade sojourn in Europe was cut short by World War II. The lack of players equal to Hawkins' stature isn't necessarily a bad thing, as the functional but uninspired backing doesn't detract from Hawkins' truly remarkable solos. The set list is a mix of standards like "September Song," "You Can't Take That Away From Me," and "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face," mixed with other tunes credited to producers Ozzie Cadena and Billy Ver Planck. ("Credited to" is probably the correct term because these tunes, particularly Ver Planck's "Thanks for the Misery" sound like brief snatches of jam sessions caught on tape.) Sound quality is typically quite good, thanks to Rudy Van Gelder's excellent engineering. Overall, TIMELESS isn't necessarily outstanding, but Hawkins plays with his customary verve, and fans will not be disappointed.