Bebop Emerges with Coleman Hawkins

Coleman Hawkins

Photo: Walter Hanlon

Source: Walter Hanlon

Launching the saxophone section of modern jazz in the HMR Project is Coleman Hawkins. Born on 21 November 1904 in Saint Joseph, Missouri, to clarinet, play bass and tenor, Hawkins began his career touring with Mamie Smith's Jazz Hounds in 1921. His career extended through the swing period from contemporaneity with Louis Armstrong and Fletcher Henderson to joining Dizzy Gillespie in the creation of modern bop. Hawkins career is a virtual encyclopedia of the jazz genre, as he recorded extensively for nigh half a century with numerous jazz elites.

Coleman's earliest recordings are thought to have been with Smith about September of 1921, four tracks per two sessions for Okeh in NYC: 'Arkansas Blues' (Okeh 4446), 'The Wang-Wang Blues' (Okeh 4445), 'Stop! Rest a While' (Okeh 4471) and 'Sweet Cookie' (Okeh 4542). Those were with Smith's Jazz Band, which became her Jazz Hounds for tracks in April or May of 1922, also for Okeh: 'Mean Daddy Blues' (4631), 'Dem Knock-Out Blues' (4631), 'Lonesome Mama Blues' (4630), 'New Orleans' (4630). 'Mamie Smith Blues' w 'Alabama Blues' (4658) followed on June 27, 'Stuttering' (8036)and 'Those Longing For You Blues' (8072) on August 15.

'Mean Daddy Blues'   Coleman Hawkins backing Mamie Smith

Recorded April/May 1922 in NYC   Matrix 70650-B   Issued on Okeh 4631

Composition: Jimmy Durante / Irving Bloom / Fred Hamburger

'Lonesome Mama Blues'   Coleman Hawkins backing Mamie Smith

Recorded April/May 1922 in NYC   Matrix 70654-B   Issued on Okeh 4630

Composition: Anna Welker Brown / Billie Brown (Irene Anderson) / E. Nickel

'New Orleans'   Coleman Hawkins backing Mamie Smith

Recorded April/May 1922 in NYC   Matrix 70655-B   Issued on Okeh 4630

Composition: Vaughn De Leath (Leonore Vonderlieth)

Several sessions with Smith ensued into 1923, until Hawkins began working with the orchestra of bandleader Fletcher Henderson, their first such occasion to record for Rosa Henderson (no relation) on July 23, 1923: 'Midnight Blues' (Victor 19124) and 'Struttin Blues' (unisued). Hawkin's first recorded solos were with Henderson, such as 'The Stampede' on 14 May 1926 to see issue w 'Jackass Blues' on Columbia 654-D.

'Carolina Stomp'   Coleman Hawkins w the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra

Recorded 21 Oct 1925 in NYC    Issued on Col 509-D

Louis Armstrong also on this track on cornet   Composition: Rube Bloom

'Hello Lola'   Coleman Hawkins w the Mound City Blue Blowers

Recorded 14 Nov 1929 in NYC    Issued on Victor V38100

Band formed by Jack Bland (guitar) and Red McKenzie (comb) in Missouri in 1923   Disbanded 1936

Other personnel: Trombone: Glenn Miller   Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell

Banjo: Eddie Condon    Bass: Pops Foster   Drums: Gene Krupa

Composition: Red McKenzie

'Queer Notions'   Coleman Hawkins w the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra

Recorded 22 Sep 1933 in NYC    Issued on Vocalion 2583

Composition: Hawkins

'The Day You Came Along'   Coleman Hawkins w the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra

Recorded 22 Sep 1933 in NYC    Issued on Vocalion 2583

Composition: Hawkins / Sam Coslow

Among Coleman's more important projects was touring Europe with swing artists, Django Reinhardt (guitar) and Stephan Grappelli (piano at the time), where they recorded together in Paris in 1935 and '37:

'Stardust'   Coleman Hawkins   Guitar: Django Reinhardt

Recorded March 1955 in Paris    Issued on His Master's Voice X.4496

Other personnel: Piano: Stephan Grappelli   Bass: Eugene d’Hellemmes   Drums: Maurice Chaillou

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish

'Honeysuckle Rose'   Coleman Hawkins & His All Star Jam Band   Guitar: Django Reinhardt

Recorded 28 April 1937 in Paris   Matrix OLA1742-1   Issued on Victor 26219-A

Composition: Fats Waller / Andy Razaf

'Crazy Rhythm'   Coleman Hawkins & His All Star Jam Band   Guitar: Django Reinhardt

Recorded 28 April 1937 in Paris   Matrix OLA1743-1   Issued on Victor 26219-B

Composition: Joseph Meyer / Roger Wolfe Kahn

Coleman's rendition of 'Body and Soul' in 1939 brought him to national acclaim:

'Body and Soul'   Coleman Hawkins & His Orchestra

Recorded 11 Oct 1939 in NYC   Issued on Bluebird B10523

Music: Johnny Green   1930

Lyrics: Edward Heyman / Robert Sour / Frank Eyton

'How Deep Is the Ocean'   Coleman Hawkins & His Orchestra   Trumpet: Bill Coleman

Recorded 8 Dec 1943 in NYC   Issued on Signature 28102

Composition: Irving Berlin

'The Man I Love'   Coleman Hawkins' Swing Four   Piano: Eddie Heywood Jr.

Recorded 23 Dec 1943 in NYC   Issued on Signature 90001

Other personnel: Bass: Oscar Pettiford   Drums: Shelly Manne

Composition: Gershwin Brothers

Another notable swing era musician with whom Hawkins worked was Duke Ellington. The emergence of bebop is generally given per sessions in Feb of 1944 beginning w 'Woody 'n You' (Apollo 751) on the 16th w Hawkins at tenor, Bud Johnson on baritone, Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Clyde Hart (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass) and Max Roach (drums). 'Woody 'n You' was composed by (John) Gillespie. Come titles like 'Disorder at the Border' (Apollo 753) on the 22nd including Don Byas at tenor sax.

'Woody 'n You'   Coleman Hawkins & His Orchestra   Emergence of Bebop

Recorded 16 Feb 1944 in NYC   Matrix R1000   Issued on Apollo 751

Composition: John (Dizzy) Gillespie

'Bu-Dee-Daht'   Coleman Hawkins & His Orchestra   Emergence of Bebop

Recorded 16 Feb 1944 in NYC   Matrix R1001   Issued on Apollo 751

Composition: Arthur Johnston / Lorenz Hart

'Yesterdays'   Coleman Hawkins & His Orchestra   Emergence of Bebop

Recorded 16 Feb 1944 in NYC   Matrix R1002   Issued on Apollo 752

Composition: Jerome Kern / Otto Harbach

'Blue Moon'   Coleman Hawkins w the Cozy Cole All Stars   Drums: Cozy Cole

Recorded 22 Feb 1944 in NYC   Two versions open this session

Matrix HLK17-1 issued on Keynote 1300   Matrix HLK17-2 issued on Keynote (Japan) 18PJ-1051/71

Music: Richard Rodgers 1934   Lyrics: Lorenz Hart

'Disorder at the Border'   Coleman Hawkins & His Orchestra   Emergence of Bebop

Recorded 22 Feb 1944 in NYC   Apollo 753

With Gillespie, et al   Composition: Hawkins

'On the Sunny Side of the Street'   Coleman Hawkins w the Cozy Cole All Stars   Drums: Cozy Cole

Recorded 14 June 1944 in NYC   Savoy 550-A

Music: Jimmy McHugh 1930   Lyrics: Dorothy Fields

'Bean Stalking'   Coleman Hawkins & His Orchestra  Trumpet: Howard McGhee

Recorded 11 Jan 1945 in NYC   Matrix 791

Issued on the album 'Coleman Hawkins On Asch Records'   Asch Records 355   1945

Other personnel: Piano: Sir Charles Thompson   Bass: Eddie Robinson   Drums: Denzil Best

Composition: Hawkins

'Night Ramble'   Coleman Hawkins & His Orchestra  Trumpet: Howard McGhee

Recorded 11 Jan 1945 in NYC   Matrix 794

Issued on the album 'Coleman Hawkins On Asch Records'   Asch Records 355   1945

Other personnel: Piano: Sir Charles Thompson   Bass: Eddie Robinson   Drums: Denzil Best

Composition: Hawkins

'Someone to Watch Over Me'   Coleman Hawkins & His Orchestra

Recorded 9 March 1945 in Los Angeles   Capitol 15853

Composition: Gershwin Brothers w Howard Dietz   1926

'Spotlite'   Coleman Hawkins & His 52nd Street All Stars

Recorded 27 Feb 1946 in NYC   Matrix PD6VB1309-1   Victor 40-0131

Composition: Hawkins

'Low Flame'   Coleman Hawkins & His 52nd Street All Stars

Recorded 27 Feb 1946 in NYC   Matrix PD6VB1310   Victor 40-0133

Composition: Leonard Feather

'Jumping for Jane'   Coleman Hawkins & His All Stars   Trumpet: Fats Navarro

Recorded 11 Dec 1947 in NYC   Matrix D7VB2663-1   Victor 20-3143

Composition: Leonard Feather

'I Love You'   Coleman Hawkins & His All Stars   Trumpet: Fats Navarro

Recorded 11 Dec 1947 in NYC   Matrix D7VB2664-1   Victor LPV501

Composition: Harry Archer / Harlan Thompson

'Disorder at the Border'   Coleman Hawkins Quintet

Recorded 13 Sep 1952 in NYC   Radio: 'The Birdland Show'   Spotlite (E)SPJ121

Personnel: Trumpet: Roy Eldridge   Piano: Horace Silver

Bass: Curley Russell   Drums: Art Blakey

Composition: Hawkins

'Lullaby of Birdland'   Coleman Hawkins' Band

Recorded 8 Nov 1954 in NYC   Issued on the album 'Timeless Jazz'   Jazztone J1002

Personnel: Trumpet: Emmett Berry   Trombone: Eddie Bert

Piano: Billy Taylor   Bass: Milt Hinton   Drums: Jo Jones

Music: George Shearing 1952   Lyrics: B.Y. Forster (George David Weiss)

'Autumn Leaves'   Coleman Hawkins w the Glenn Osser Orchestra

Recorded 7 Feb 1957 in NYC   Issued on Capitol T819

Music: Joseph Kosma 1945   Lyrics: French: Jacques Prévert   English: Johnny Mercer

'Blues for Yolanda'   Coleman Hawkins w Ben Webster (tenor sax)

Recorded 16 Oct 1957 in Hollywood

Issued on the album 'Blue Saxophones'   Verve 2304 169

Other personnel on album: Piano: Ray Bryant & Oscar Peterson

Guitar: Herb Ellis   Bass: Ray Brown   Drums: Alvin Stoller

Composition: Hawkins

'Battle Hymn of the Republic'   Coleman Hawkins w Henry Red Allen (trumpet)

Recorded 16 Dec 1957 in NYC

Music: William Steffe 1856   Lyrics: Julia Ward Howe 1861

'Frankie and Johnny'   Coleman Hawkins w Henry Red Allen (trumpet)

Recorded 16 Dec 1957 in NYC

'Maryland, My Maryland'   Coleman Hawkins w Henry Red Allen (trumpet)

Recorded 16 Dec 1957 in NYC

'Undecided'   Coleman Hawkins live in Cannes w Roy Eldridge (trumpet)

Recorded 8 July 1958

Composition: Charlie Shavers / Sid Robin

'Sandra's Blues'   Coleman Hawkins w Milt Jackson (vibes)

Recorded 12 Sep 1958   Issued on the album 'Bean Bags'   Atlantic ATL-EP 80.031

Other personnel: Piano: Tommy Flanagan   Guitar: Kenny Burrell

Bass: Eddie Jones  Drums: Connie Kay

Composition: Milt Jackson

'Until the Real Thing Comes Along'   Coleman Hawkins Quintet w Ray Bryant (piano)

Recorded 7 Nov 1958 in Hackensack, NJ   Issued on the album 'Soul'   Prestige PRLP 7149

Composition: Alberta Nichols / L.E. Freeman / Mann Holiner / Sammy Cahn /S aul Chaplin

'Bean's Blues'   Coleman Hawkins w the Red Garland Trio

Recorded 12 Aug 1959 in Hackensack, NJ

Issued on the album 'Coleman Hawkins With The Red Garland Trio'   Swingville SVLP 2001

Trio personnel: Piano: Red Garland   Bass: Doug Watkins   Drums: Charles Wright

Composition: Hawkins

'After Midnight'   Coleman Hawkins & His Orchestra

Recorded 1960 NYC   Issued on 'Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra'   Crown CLP 5181 

Also issued on The Hawk Swings

Album(s) personnel: Trumpet: Thad Jones   Piano & vibes: Eddie Costa

Piano: Nat Pierce   Bass: George Duvivier   Drums: Osie Johnson

Composition: unidentified (not JJ Cale's of 1966)

'Disorder at the Border'   Coleman Hawkins w Georges Arvanitas (piano)

Live in Brussells 4 or 5 June 1962   Crown CLP 5181 

Other personnel: Bass: Jimmy Woode   Drums: Kansas Fields

Composition: Hawkins

Other jazz giants with whom Hawkins worked were Thelonious Monk and Stan Getz. Hawkins recorded a version of the bossa nova tune, 'Desafinado', half a year after Getz who first documented his version on 13 February 1962 toward release by Verve on 'Jazz Samba'. Hawkins' rendition also saw issue in 1962 on the album, "Desafinado':

'Desafinado'   Coleman Hawkins

Recorded 17 Sep 1962 in NYC   Issued on the album 'Desafinado'   Impulse! A-28

Music: Antonio Carlos Jobim   Lyrics: Newton Mendonça

'Centerpiece'   Coleman Hawkins w Harry "Sweets" Edison

Live in London probably Oct 1964

Other personnel: Piano: Sir Charles Thompson   Bass: Jimmy Woode   Drums: Papa Jo Jones

Composition: Sweets Edison / Jon Hendricks

'Stoned'   Coleman Hawkins w Harry "Sweets" Edison

Live in London Oct 1964

Other personnel: Piano: Sir Charles Thompson   Bass: Jimmy Woode   Drums: Papa Jo Jones

Composition: Wardell Gray

Among Hawkins' major gigs had been numerous performances with Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP). Tom Lord traces Coleman to twelve recording sessions with the JATP in '45, '46, '47, '49 and '66, the last at Royal Festival Hall in London on 26 November 1966 including appearances by Gillespie and Clark Terry at trumpet, resulting in such as 'Blue Lou' and 'I Can't Get Started' issued on Pablo 2620-119. Discogs, however, has that issue recorded in March 1969.

'Blue Lou'   Coleman Hawkins   Live for Jazz at the Philharmonic

26 Nov 1966

Other personnel: Alto sax: Benny Carter   Piano: Teddy Wilson

Bass: Bob Cranshaw   Drums: Louie Bellson

Composition: Irving Mills / Edgar Sampson

'Body and Soul'   Coleman Hawkins   Live for Jazz at the Philharmonic sometime 1967

Music: Johnny Green   1930

Lyrics: Edward Heyman / Robert Sour / Frank Eyton

Making his final recordings per Lord in February 1968 in Europe, among tracks gone down were 'Lover Man' (13 Feb in Copenhagen, Denmark) and 'All the Things You Are' (2 April in Essen, Germany) eventually issued on 'Master of Jazz' (Storyville 4112). Hawkins died a year later on 19 May 1969 in New York City of pneumonia.