Coleman Hawkins - His Greatest Hits (1939-1947)

A superb collection of classic recordings from Coleman Hawkins, the pioneering tenor saxophonist whose powerful tone and sophisticated improvisational approach helped define the instrument's place in jazz.

His Greatest Hits (1939–1947) gathers key performances from one of the most important periods of Hawkins' career, including his landmark interpretation of “Body and Soul,” alongside “Meet Dr. Foo,” “She's Funny That Way,” “Fine Dinner,” “Say It Isn't So,” “Indian Summer,” “Angel Face,” “Bouncing with Bean,” “The Sheik of Araby,” “My Blue Heaven,” “When Day Is Done,” “April in Paris,” “How Strange” and “I Love You.”

The recordings feature Hawkins alongside an impressive cast of jazz musicians including Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Pettiford, Buck Clayton, J.J. Johnson, Hank Jones, Max Roach, Mary Lou Williams and others. Issued in RCA's Black & White series, this French mono LP offers an excellent survey of Hawkins' transition from the Swing Era toward the emerging language of modern jazz.