This 1959 quartet recording, "Soul," captured Hawkins in a late-career phase, playing with a clarity and directness that belied his age. The album features a unique instrumentation of tenor saxophone, piano, bass, and drums, with an emphasis on bluesy improvisation.
- The album was recorded in New York City on March 1, 1959. It was released on the New Jazz Records label, later reissued by Original Jazz Classics. The tracklist features a mix of standards and blues-inflected originals.
- Hawkins, a pioneer of the tenor saxophone in jazz, leads a quartet on this album. The session showcases his mature style, with a focus on melodic invention and harmonic sophistication.
- The album's intimate setting allowed Hawkins to engage in deep, blues-drenched improvisations, a hallmark of his later work. This recording is a testament to his enduring influence on the jazz saxophone tradition.
Coleman Hawkins was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He was one of the first prominent jazz bandleaders to make his instrument into a lead, popularizing it in the swing era.
Tracklist
