COLEMAN HAWKINS – 1934-1937 | The Classics Chronological Series – 602 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Coleman Hawkins was already well on his way to becoming the first master of the tenor saxophone when these sides were recorded. With his ten-year incubation with the heralded Fletcher Henderson band in the past (not to mention fine stints with McKinney's Cotton Pickers and various session outfits), Hawkins moved to Europe in 1934 and proceeded to hone his tough yet romantic sound with a variety of overseas groups. This Classics disc covers the first half of his eventual five-year sojourn. In addition to the four sides with pianist Stanley Black that kick things off, the 22 cuts find Hawkins in the adequate, yet somewhat stiff, company of continental contingents from The Hague, Paris, and various other locales. Hawkins is impressive throughout, though, in spite of the less than swinging environs; thankfully, the ensemble playing heats up quite nicely on the cuts with Django Reinhardt. A few reservations having been aired, this disc's good overall sound and sufficient enough supply of quality solos and cuts make it a title Hawkins fans should seek out. Stephen Cook
Tracklist :
1     Lullaby 2:55
Stanley Black    
2     Oh, Lady Be Good 2:43
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin    
3     Lost in a Fog 3:03
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh    
4     Honeysuckle Rose 3:04
Andy Razaf / Fats Waller    
5     Some of These Days 2:31
Shelton Brooks    
6     After You've Gone 2:36
Henry Creamer / Turner Layton    
7     I Only Have Eyes for You 2:42
Al Dubin / Harry Warren    
8     I Wish I Were Twins 2:31
Eddie DeLange / Frank Loesser / Joseph Meyer    
9     Hands Across the Table 3:04
Jean Delettre / Mitchell Parish    
10     Blue Moon 3:12
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers    
11     Avalon 3:01
Buddy DeSylva / Al Jolson / Vincent Rose
12     What a Diff'rence a Day Made 3:15
Stanley Adams / María Mendez Grever
13     Stardust 3:11
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish    
14     Chicago 3:00
Fred Fisher    
15     Meditation 3:00
Jack Bulterman    
16     What Harlem Is to Me 2:44
Paul Denniker / Andy Razaf / Sam Wooding    
17     Netcha's Dream 2:34
Coleman Hawkins    
18     Love Cries 3:05
Coleman Hawkins
19     Sorrow 3:05
Shelton Brooks    
20     Tiger Rag 2:18
Harry Da Costa / Eddie Edwards / Nick LaRocca / Henry W. Ragas / Tony Sbarbaro / Larry Shields
21     It May Not Be True 3:07
Coleman Hawkins    
22     I'm in the Mood for Love 3:09
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh