After an extended stint in Europe,
Coleman Hawkins returned to the States in 1939 and proceeded to involve himself in New York's burgeoning 52nd Street scene over the next ten years. While jamming and recording with up-and-coming bebop figures like
Fats Navarro,
Thelonious Monk, and
J.J. Johnson,
Hawkins also worked with regular bands of his own, refining the combo swing that
Lester Young,
Red Norvo, the Benny Goodman Sextet, Ellington's "small groups," and
Hawkins himself helped forge in the '30s. This Le Jazz release brings together some of the high points of
Hawkins' output during this inspired period and features fellow travelers hip to both swing and bebop like tenor saxophonist Don Byas, drummer
Cozy Cole, and trumpeter
Roy Eldridge. Along with additional jazz luminaries like pianist
Teddy Wilson, trumpeter
Buck Clayton, and baritone saxophonist
Harry Carney,
Hawkins impeccably moves through 20 choice covers and a few originals. Highlights from the five different 1944 sessions covered here include "I Only Have Eyes for You," gentle strollers like "Under a Blanket of Blue," and, if you will, the miniature cutting contest between
Hawkins, Byas, and alto saxophonist
Tab Smith heard on "Battle of the Saxes." Buoyed by the rarefied swing laid down by
Cole, Sid Catlett, Wilson, et al,
Hawkins reels off a string of fertile solos, demonstrating a supreme command of his horn and a penchant for mercurial, yet cogent, phrasing. Along with other fine '40s titles by
Hawkins including Bean and the Boys on Prestige and
Hollywood Stampede on Capitol, The Master is essential listening for
Hawkins fans, and all jazz enthusiasts for that matter.