An interesting Coleman Hawkins album that's unavailable and virtually unknown today is Coleman Hawkins Meets the Big Sax Section. Originally entitled The Saxophone Section, Featuring Coleman Hawkins, it was recorded in April 1958 for the World Wide label. When Savoy re-issued the album, the label changed the title.
The LP featured 4/5 of Count Basie's sax section plus pianist Nat Pierce (one of the best Basie imitators), Basie's guitarist Freddie Green, Basie's bassist Eddy Jones, and drummer Bobby Donaldson. who likely was pulled in by the album's arranger, Billy VerPlanck.
The sax section included Marshal Royal and Frank Wess (as), Coleman Hawkins (ts solos,ldr), Frank Foster (ts) and Charlie Fowlkes (bar). Tenor saxophonist Billy Mitchell sat out this recording session. Songs were mostly swaggering blues with a rolling Basie feel. Two show tunes were tossed in with fabulous arrangements by VerPlanck.
The tracks:
- An Evening at Papa Joe's
- There Is Nothing Like a Dame
- Ooga Dooga
- Thanks for the Misery
- I've Grown Accustomed to Your Face
- Thanks for the Misery (take 1)
It's interesting to hear how Hawkins sounds soloing on Basie-ish material. Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis clearly filled those shoes, with a bit of showmanship. Hawkins was recorded three times with Basie. In 1940, Hawk played three songs with a stunning list of top jazz musicians on the radio; in 1941, Hawk was a Metronome All Star and so was Basie. The third time they played together was in 1957 on CBS's The Sound of Jazz. [Publicity still above of Coleman Hawkins]
Listening to the album again yesterday, it's clear why Basie steered clear. Hawk overshadows everyone else with power and intricate and inventive improvisational lines. He's like the pool player who clears the table. Not much fun for the other players. These tracks are the only ones that provide a sense of how he would have sounded had he been a member of the New Testament band. Pretty darn exciting. [Photo above of Billy VerPlanck and his wife, singer Marlene VerPlanck]
JazzWax clips: Though the album hasn't been re-issued, a few of the album's tracks turn up on Hawkins compilations. Just type the tracks into YouTube.
JazzWax tracks: Here's Thanks for the Misery...
Here's There's Nothing Like a Dame, from Broadways' South Pacific...
And here's An Evening at Papa Joe's...
Bonus: Here's Coleman Hawkins soloing with Count Basie on Dickie's Dream on CBS's The Sound of Jazz in 1957...
