Personnel:
Coleman Hawkins (ts), Red Garland, Tommy Flanagan (p), Doug Watkins, Wendell Marshall (b), 'Specs' Wright, Osie Johnson (d)
Reference: EJC55478
Bar code: 8436028696529
This release presents the two outstanding quartet studio albums made by Coleman Hawkins in 1959-1960. Coleman Hawkins with the 'Red Garland Trio,' is one of many records made by Hawk in the late 1950s. This was a renaissance period in his career. He collaborates here with yet another musician from the modern school, pianist Red Garland. Garland became famous in 1955 when he joined the Miles Davis Quintet that also featured John Coltrane, Philly Joe Jones and Paul Chambers. Davis was a big fan of boxing and was impressed that Garland had boxed earlier in his life. Together the group recorded their famous albums, Workin', Steamin', Cookin' and Relaxin' (all of which were recorded in the course of just two marathon sessions).
'At Ease with Coleman Hawkins,' belongs to the same period and features Hawk in a quartet format again backed by another modern jazz pianist: Tommy Flanagan. Like Garland, Flanagan was a very versatile musician who could play a very modern piano style (influenced by Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell), but could also swing effortlessly. They were both highly regarded accompanists (Flanagan backed Ella Fitzgerald for many years). Hawkins and Flanagan would collaborate frequently. Their association began in 1958, when both musicians participated on the album Bean Bags, which paired Hawkins with Milt Jackson. The Moodsville album At Ease marks Hawk's fourth album with the pianist. Flanagan was a member of Hawkins' regular quartet at different times, and their last collaborative recording is a live concert at the London House, in Chicago, on June 19, 1963.
-With the Red Garland Trio
"One of Hawkins's better Prestige sessions (originally on its Swingville subsidiary) finds him fronting a then-modern rhythm section for a variety of basic originals, the ballad "I Want to Be Loved" and "It's a Blues World." The lengthy "Bean's Blues" is the highpoint of this generally relaxed session."
-At Ease
"Recorded originally for the Prestige subsidiary Moodsville, Coleman Hawkins (along with the Tommy Flanagan Trio) sticks exclusively to ballads and slower pieces, all played at a low flame. Although it is nice to hear the veteran tenor interpreting "Poor Butterfly" and "I'll Get By," this CD is more successful as pleasant background music than as creative jazz."
Both by Scott Yanow (All Music Guide)
