On one day in 1954, tenor sax great
Coleman Hawkins recorded a dozen selections for the Jazztone label. The original LP had nine of the songs, but now, with the added time of a CD, all 12 have been brought together. Half feature
Hawkins with the rhythm section, and most of these are ballads while the hotter numbers add trumpeter
Emmett Berry and trombonist
Eddie Bert. The music overall is relaxed and swinging, fitting securely in the modern swing mainstream of the mid-'50s.
Hawkins sounds reasonably inspired and it is a rare treat to hear the underrated
Emmett Berry in this setting. ~ Scott Yanow