What impresses most is the grace with which Hawkins releases his notes almost effortlessly. There is a sense that this musician was born with the music inside him and that it just naturally flows from him through his instrument and into the room. The ease with which Hawkins plays makes these performances something very special. The fact that he is supported by three excellent jazzmen enhances his performance to perfection.
While it may serve well as music to drive by, the music on this release is really the stuff of romance. There's a seductive quality to this music that would make a beautiful backdrop to a romantic evening with a special friend. It has a timeless quality that takes the listener away from the harshness of the real world and into someplace warm and comfortable, perfect for cuddling or for dancing cheek to cheek.
Any jazz fan will want to add this album to his or her collection, but I recommend it for any fan of excellent music of any genre. This is a wonderful set of music that definitely deserved to be re-released.
Beyond the music, this CD includes Ron Eyre's liner notes from the original album; a brief reflective note by Rudy van Gelder, who was the engineer on the original recording sessions and also made the masters for this CD release; and extensive new liner notes for this release by Zan Stewart. These notes provide an interesting and informative read, filling out the story of both the artist and his music.
To learn more about jazz legend Coleman Hawkins, go to the Red Hot Jazz website or to Wikipedia.
At Ease with Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Hawkins
Moodsville Records
2006
8 tracks
Article comments
1 - Big Geez
Nice review, Bob. I've always been a sucker for sax and it doesn't get much better than this.