COLEMAN HAWKINS (On the Bean) Jazz History #34

Coleman Hawkins is considered to have been the first great tenor saxophone soloist, performing in the early 1920s with Fletcher Henderson and Mamie Smith’s Jazz Hounds. He was the predecessor and inspiration for Ben Webster and Lester Young in the 1930s and he later demonstrated prescience as one of the first to hire Thelonious Monk at a time when few were able to comprehend how far-reaching Monk’s influence would be. Hawkins’ 1939 recording of Body and Soul, made shortly after returning to the US following an extended time spent in Europe, has gone down as one of the most famous recordings in all of jazz history.
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The Jazz History series is a video adaptation of a PowerPoint presentation used to teach a university course. It traces the roots of jazz from Ragtime at the turn of the 20th century to jazz-rock fusion at the end of the 1960s. You’ll find a lot more videos like this one in the JAZZ HISTORY playlist on this channel.
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On this channel, jazz trumpeter, educator and author Chase Sanborn offers advice and tips for musicians and music students, based on more than forty years of experience as a professional musician.
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[@Wanielyo]

Just started reading a biography of Roy Eldridge, turns out he learned Hawkins’ Stampede solo at a young age and could still remember it years on. He said that the loved how sax players really played the harmony and that’s the direction he wanted to take on trumpet.

[@chasesanborn]

The connection makes sense. Thanks for the comment!

[@4gcole]

This is a beautiful and truly educational series you are putting together Chase! Thank you so much for your efforts :)

[@chasesanborn]

I appreciate that George, and am glad you are enjoying it.

[@tedfrantic]

This is great thank you. I’ve only just got into jazz (well, over the last 2 years), and enjoying gradually piecing the story together.. your series is exactly what I was looking for

[@chasesanborn]

Glad you found it!

[@driversoflondon5611]

Agree

[@LokeyeMC]

Thank you. Bless you. This made my day and Sonny Rollins' eloquent poetry on the impact of excellence in endeavor may change the course of my efforts. Barry Harris brought me to learn about the Bean and you may have brought me to learn about me 😊

[@chasesanborn]

I think it was Sonny more than me who made the major impact, but I'm happy to be the messenger!

[@RommelLeiro]

Seria muito bom se esses vídeos tivessem legendas.

[@chasesanborn]

KZbin doesn't allow subtitles on the jazz history videos, possibly because of copyright issues. (They can't be monetized either.) At least the music needs no translation.

[@kentmatsui2724]

Man, I love your jazz history documentaries! Would you ever do any more on modern masters like Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, or the recently passed away David Sanborn? Thank you for what you've done on these. I've watched them more than a few times each. Especially the several you did on Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

[@chasesanborn]

The jazz history videos are based on an in-person university course which I had to take online during Covid. The curriculum covers a 70-year span ending about 1970, due to time constraints. The six episodes on Miles conclude the series.

[@kafenwar]

Coleman Hawkins actually joined Fletcher Henderson around August, 1923. He cut his first sides with Henderson that month and year.

[@chasesanborn]

Correction noted and appreciated!

[@alandesouzacruz5124]

I love the 1937 Coleman hawnkins recordings whith Django reinhardt

[@chasesanborn]

A meeting of innovative minds.

[@dougs78records64]

The Manhattan Transfer made their version in 1979 not 1988 just FYI.

[@chasesanborn]

Thanks for that correction. I bought the LP when it was released. The past is getting foggy! :)

[@jeffervin2830]

I thought "bean" was slang for your head. i.e. a mental approach to playing.

[@chasesanborn]

That is along the lines of 'on the bean' meaning 'on the ball'.

[@paulgrass4855]

First Tenor? What about the great Chu Berry!

[@chasesanborn]

Hawk was several years older, and according to Berry's Wikipedia bio (for whatever that's worth), he was inspired to take up the tenor after hearing Hawk on tour. In any case, they both go way back.

[@paulgrass4855]

@@chasesanborn while Coleman was older, it was actually Berry who pioneered the style on the instrument and made way for the commercially successful careers of the big three a bit later.

[@monicabella7894]

Why do many sax players name their son Chu?!

[@JCsaxophile]

@@paulgrass4855 Not true at all! Coleman Randolph Hawkins, like Louis Armstrong for the trumpet, was the genesis of the tenor saxophone stylists! I refer you to Fletcher Henderson's 1926 "Stampede" recording and even more importantly but lesser known is the 1933 recording with Spike Hughes' Ork of "Firebird" in which both Hawkins and Chu Berry share the studio for the first time! After the intro and ensemble, Chu takes the first half of the first chorus swinging but sounding like a work in progress then Hawkins comes in to round out the chorus with swing, polish and finesse! For me, Chu Berry and Don Byas were the stylistic and harmonic bridge to modern jazz through Hawkins' influence. A great compilation to further Hawk's influence is the label Sagajazz's "Coleman Hawkins: Henderson Days" (1924-34)which includes the aforementioned "Stampede" among other great Hawk solos before Chu was on the radar & well before the '39 classic Body & Soul! Also, on "Carolina Shout", Hawk plays bass sax throughout, I think his horn needed repair during that session! LOL! BUT I have to give a slight nod to Chu's 1938 version of Body and Soul with Roy Eldridge as a classic as well!

[@kafenwar]

@@JCsaxophile Speaking of Spike Hughes' recordings, "Donegal Cradle Song" is a must-listen. Hawkins has an amazing and oddly muted tone and his overall solo is one of the very best of his career.

[@jeremyellismusic]

Kind respect to you for the effort but... How did you possibly think to play the entire Manhattan Transfer version and not even mention the Coltrane version?

[@chasesanborn]

The clips by Eddie Jefferson and Manhattan Transfer illustrate the use of Hawkins' solo as a contrafact. If we are to showcase great performances of Body and Soul it would be a much longer video!

[@twothousandcookies]

lol beans

[@chasesanborn]

:)