The grand master of the tenor saxophone fronts three ensembles arranged by Billy Byers: a lightly riffing big band, a strings-and-winds chamber ensemble (with rhythm section), and an orchestra mixing elements of both. Hawk is center stage and in fine form. In 1956, newfangled "Hi-Fi" was susceptible to gimmickry, but the engineers took special care to make the star sound ravishing. His sumptuous tone had only deepened and taken on darker hues since his 1939 classic "Body and Soul" (revived here with strings, and Hawk on his old wavelength). There's an air of bachelor-pad kitsch to some satiny strings and twittering flutes, and to quirky touches like the "Oriental" glides opening "The Day You Came Along." No matter; Hawkins is unperturbed by whatever happens back there, milking the lyricism from standards and forgotten treasures ("Dinner for One Please, James"). He makes even the silly stuff sound right. There are no revelations in the nine alternate takes newly issued here, but more Hawk is always welcome. --Kevin Whitehead
The Hawk in Hi Fi,Coleman Hawkins,RCA,Bop,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Swing
Jazz Music:
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- The King of Swing and His Band: 1934-1939
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- The Moonwalkers
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- Uninvisible
- Up and at 'Em: Early Victor Electric Hot Dance Bands
- 1936-1946
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Bach: Concertos For Violin & Oboe
Definitive Collection: Best of the Best Gold [Limited Edition] [Import]
Mozart: String Quartets Nos. 14 - 23 [Import]
Bebop in Paris V.1 [Original recording remastered] [Import]
College Rhythm: Hot Dance Band Classics, 1927-1934