Prestige Meets …   ... ... ... ... ... ...


REVIEW   DownBeat  /  December 21, 1961


Coleman Hawkins
The Hawk Relaxes

Prestige/Moodsville 15

★★★★½

Rudy Van Gelder Remasters


Here is the old master at work, showing anyone who might be interested that ballads have grace, fluidity, depth, vitality, beauty, and an innate propulsion. The concept, promulgated steadily over the last decade by a seemingly endless line of apparently totally insensitive soloists, that the essence of balladry is a flat, drab sound expressed sullenly at a tempo bordering on utter exhaustion received the definitive refutation that it has been begging for in this set of Hawkins performances.

It would be laboring the obvious to point out that Hawkins is one of the rate and remarkable creators in the ballad idiom in jazz. There have been times, however when he has been content simply to go through the motions on ballads. But this is not one of them Here he works all his magic, the warm-blooded singing of his playing gliding and soaring through one brilliant chorus after another.

More than that, he has found a superbly complementary musician in Burrell, who has a few solos and occasionally moves up into fascinating duet relationship with Hawkins.

Like Hawkins, Burrell has always shown an appreciation and understanding of ballads, and, undoubtedly stimulated by this association with another great ballad man, he has rarely played with more becomingly sensitive imagination.

The essential mood of this set might be considered background music, but it is background music of such a compelling nature that the ear is drawn, caught, and never released. —John S. Wilson


The Hawk Relaxes: I’ll Never Be the Same; When Day Is Done; Under a Blanket of Blue; More Than You Know; Moonglow; Just a Gigolo; Speak Low.
Personnel: Hawkins, tenor saxophone; Kenny Burell, guitar; Ronnell Bright, piano; Ron Carter, bass; Andrew Cyrille, drums


ENTER TO WIN!


CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

The Prestige Sweepstakes entry period is officially over.

Thanks to everyone who participated.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER THIS SWEEPSTAKES

The sweepstakes will begin on June 1, 2014.

All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on November 30, 2014.

To enter this sweepstakes, complete the required fields on the entry form located online at downbeat.com.

Entrants are limited to one entry per person.