Although the swing era ended in 1946,
Erskine Hawkins was able to keep his big band together into 1953. This 1983 LP from MCA's Jazz Heritage series is inexcusably skimpy in time, with just five brief numbers apiece from
Hawkins' 1950 big band and his 1960 sextet; both bands had originally recorded a dozen selections at these sessions. The music, mostly remakes of earlier hits, includes "After Hours," "Cherry" and two versions of "Tuxedo Junction," along with a few jumping originals. While the 1950 unit has solos from the trumpeter/leader, altoist Bobby Smith, tenorman Julian Dash and pianist
Ace Harris, among others, the 1960 group finds
Hawkins and Smith as the main stars. The swing music on this LP is fine, but the packaging greatly lowers the album's value. ~ Scott Yanow