Coleman Hawkins

(b 1904 St. Joseph, Missouri - d -1969) Coleman Hawkins is considered by many to be the first great Jazz saxophonist. His 1939 recording of "Body and Soul" brought attention to the saxophone as a serious instrument. His improvisation and remarkable knowledge of chords and harmonies inspired others to take the instrument and Jazz itself to unchartered territory. A gifted musician at very young age, Hawkins settled on the tenor sax at nine. Back then the saxophone was considered a novelty instrument, used in vaudeville or as a poor substitute for the trombone in marching bands, but when Hawkins turned professional at age twelve, he was determined to develop his own sound. He was playing in a theater pit band in Kansas City when Jazz singer Mamie Smith discovered him. During the next twelve years Hawkins played in numerous bands, touring and recording. His superior playing quickly made him a featured soloists with each of these bands. These years brought further development of his unique style and he incorporated various influences, including working with Louis Armstrong.In 1934,tired of the American scene, he moved to Europe, where he freelanced with different bands and made several recordings. With the approach of war, Hawkins returned to the United States in 1939.At this time, Lester Young had arrived on the scene, bringing a totally new style to the tenor. Yet, Hawkins was still the dominant force in the field, proving it with triumphant jam sessions and his recording of"Body and Soul".Unable to make it with his own big band, he became a fixture on 52nd Street. Some of his finest recordings were made during the first half of the 1940s. Hawkins encouraged the younger bop-oriented musicians, eagerly playing with them, yet maintaining his own harmonically advanced style. In 1944 he used the young Thelonious Monk for his quartet. He led the first official bop record session (which included Dizzy Gillespie). He also used at various times Oscar Pettiford, Miles Davis and Max Roach as sidemen.In 1948 Hawkins recorded the first unaccompanied saxophone solo, "Picasso."By the early '50s, Lester Young's influnce had surpassed Hawkins with the young tenors. Still, Hawkins kept on working and occasionally recording, and by the mid-'50s was experiencing a renaissance. A new rising star at this time was Sonny Rollins, who considered Hawkins his main influence. Hawkins began teaming up with Roy Eldridge, appearing at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival.Here is a You Tube clip, which a terrific solo piano work by the little known Georges Arvanitas.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wnyj3zIf1S8