The "Grand Old Man" of the Tenor Saxophone Coleman Hawkins (Born Nov. 21, 1904, in St. Joseph) has been an influential figure in Jazz from the 20s until his death in 1969. He was, until the arrival of Lester Young, the only great tenor sax player in Jazz music. Hawkins had a large, heavy, sound that was far different from Young's lighter, cooler tone. Hawkins' 1939 version of "Body And Soul" has become a jazz classic. Hawkins became deeply involved in the bop revolution of the mid-40s, and his playing provided the
improvisational foundation with his small combos on 52nd Street. Since 1943 when his sextet included trumpeter Benny Harris and pianist Thelonious Monk, he has employed such greats as trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie, Miles
Davis, Fats Navarro and drummer Max Roach, among others. However to many boppers his heavy big sound was out of fashion. During the hard bop years immediately following the bebop period, the deep and heavy Hawkins-style was resorted to favour. 

Hawkins began his jazz career in his teens as a member of Mamie Smith's Jazz Hounds in 1921. He then joined Fletcher Henderson in 1924, spending a decade in the band that included Louis Armstrong. It was there that he established himself as a star soloist." In 1934, Hawkins left for a five-year stay in Europe. With his return to the United States in1939, and the resulting "Body and Soul" hit, Hawkins re-established his supremacy in the jazz tenor sax ranks. Although moving into the role of elder statesman in the '50s, Hawkins continued to test himself, and in mid-1963 recorded with the forward-looking group of Sonny Rollins for RCA. He also worked with Duke Ellington and Jazz At The Philharmonic in the '60s. 

* The High and Mighty Hawk                 London 820-600

* The Genius of Coleman Hawkins         Verve 825-673

 * The Hawk Flies High                            OJC 27-2 - Riverside 233

 * Hollywood Stampede                            Capitol 92596

 * The Hawk Relaxes                                 OJC 420-2 - Moodsville 15

 * Soul                                                         OJC 96-2 - Prestige 7149

 * Night Hawk                                            OJC 420-2 / Swingville 2016

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