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Coleman Hawkins

Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. One of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument, as Joachim E. Berendt explained: "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn". Hawkins biographer John Chilton described the prevalent styles of tenor saxophone solos prior to Hawkins as "mooing" and "rubbery belches". Hawkins cited as influences Happy Caldwell, Stump Evans, and Prince Robinson, although he was the first to tailor his method of improvisation to the saxophone rather than imitate the techniques of the clarinet. Hawkins' virtuosic, arpeggiated approach to improvisation, with his characteristic rich, emotional, and vibrato-laden tonal style, was the main influence on a generation of tenor players that included Chu Berry, Charlie Barnet, Tex Beneke, Ben Webster, Vido Musso, Herschel Evans, Buddy Tate, and Don Byas, and through them the later tenormen, Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, Flip Phillips, Ike Quebec, Al Sears, Paul Gonsalves, and Lucky Thompson. While Hawkins became known with swing music during the big band era, he had a role in the development of bebop in the 1940s.

Fellow saxophonist Lester Young, known as the "President of the Tenor Saxophone", commented, in a 1959 interview with The Jazz Review: "As far as I'm concerned, I think Coleman Hawkins was the president, first, right? As far as myself, I think I'm the second one." Miles Davis once said: "When I heard Hawk, I learned to play ballads."

Birth and Death Data: Born November 21, 1904 (St. Joseph), Died May 19, 1969 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1958

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone, leader, composer, saxophone, bass saxophone, director, alto saxophone

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 108 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-57064 10-in. 11/5/1929 Plain dirt McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57065 10-in. 11/5/1929 Gee, ain't I good to you McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57066 10-in. 11/6/1929 I'd love it McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57067 10-in. 11/6/1929 The way I feel today McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57068 10-in. 11/6/1929 Miss Hannah McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57139 10-in. 11/7/1929 Peggy McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57140 10-in. 11/7/1929 Wherever there's a will, baby McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; Don Redman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57145 10-in. 11/14/1929 Hello Lola Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, leader  
Victor BVE-57146 10-in. 11/14/1929 One hour Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, leader  
Victor BS-041408 10-in. 9/11/1939 Hot mallets Lionel Hampton Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor BS-042933 10-in. 10/11/1939 Meet Doctor Foo Coleman Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, saxophone, composer  
Victor BS-042934 10-in. 10/11/1939 Fine dinner Coleman Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, saxophone, composer  
Victor BS-042935 10-in. 10/11/1939 She's funny that way Thelma Carpenter ; Coleman Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-042936 10-in. 10/11/1939 Body and soul Coleman Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-046156 10-in. 1/3/1940 When day is done Coleman Hawkins' All-Star Octet Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-046157 10-in. 1/3/1940 The sheik of Araby Coleman Hawkins' All-Star Octet Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-046158 10-in. 1/3/1940 My blue heaven Coleman Hawkins' All-Star Octet Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-046159 10-in. 1/3/1940 Bouncing with Bean Coleman Hawkins' All-Star Octet Jazz/dance band composer, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-060331 10-in. 1/16/1941 Bugle call rag Metronome All Star Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor BS-060332 10-in. 1/16/1941 One o'clock jump Metronome All Star Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor D7VB-2647 10-in. 12/10/1947 How did she look Coleman Hawkins Orchestra ; Leslie Scott Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor D7VB-2648 10-in. 12/10/1947 Under a blanket of blue Coleman Hawkins Orchestra ; Leslie Scott Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor D7VB-2649 10-in. 12/10/1947 Never in a million years Coleman Hawkins Orchestra ; Leslie Scott Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor D7VB-2650 10-in. 12/10/1947 You were meant for me Coleman Hawkins Orchestra ; Leslie Scott Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor D7VB-2659 10-in. 12/11/1947 April in Paris Coleman Hawkins Orchestra Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, leader  
(Results 1-25 of 108 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hawkins, Coleman," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103427.

Hawkins, Coleman. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103427.

"Hawkins, Coleman." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103427

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