Coleman Hawkins Today And Now

Coleman Hawkins Quartet: Coleman Hawkins (tenor saxophone); Tommy Flanagan (piano); Major Holley (bass); Eddie Locke (drums).
Producer: Bob Thiele.
Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on September 9, 1962. Includes liner notes by Stanley Dance.
Digitally remastered by Erick Labson (MCA Music Media Studios).
Coleman Hawkins recorded three sessions for Impulse Records in the early to mid '60's. Of the three, TODAY AND NOW is the most compelling. The unusual choice of repertoire is what sets this album apart. Versions of the traditional song "Go Li'l Liza" and the fairly obscure Quincy Jones ballad "Quintessence" are creatively rendered. Indeed, Hawk seems inspired throughout; he plays with an abandon that is altogether effortless.
Moreover, his band (consisting of pianist Tommy Flanagan, bass player Major Holley, and drummer Eddie Locke) backs the tenor king up with a similar imaginative approach. A largely impromptu session, each song develops and evolves with each chorus. The Bean's (one of Hawkins' nicknames) interplay with Flanagan on the mid-tempo swinger, "Swingin' Scotch" is the album's highlight. Indeed, this is one of Hawkins' last great records.

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Jazz