Hampton Hawes • The Sermon

Review by Scott Yanow

This set was pianist Hampton Hawes' last before he started what would be five years in prison on drug charges. He had been arrested 11 days before and ironically chose to record a set of spirituals (plus a blues) as he awaited trial. Not released until 1987, the music (played with bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Stan Levey) is full of intense emotion, strong melodies and a little more variety than one might expect. Hawes' treatments of such tunes as "Down By the Riverside," "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder" and "Joshua Fit De Battle of Jericho" are quite haunting.

Artist Biography by Scott Yanow

Hampton Hawes was one of the finest jazz pianists of the 1950s, a fixture on the Los Angeles scene who brought his own interpretations to the dominant Bud Powell style. In the mid- to late '40s, he played with Sonny Criss, Dexter Gordon, and Wardell Gray, among others on Central Avenue. He was with Howard McGhee's band (1950-1951), played with Shorty Rogers and the Lighthouse All-Stars, served in the Army (1952-1954), and then led trios in the L.A. area, recording many albums for Contemporary. Arrested for heroin possession in 1958, Hawes spent five years in prison until he was pardoned by President Kennedy. He led trios for the remainder of his life, using electric piano (which disturbed his longtime fans) for a period in the early to mid-'70s, but returned to acoustic piano before dying from a stroke in 1977. Hampton Hawes' memoirs, Raise Up Off Me (1974), are both frank and memorable, and most of his records (for Xanadu, Prestige, Savoy, Contemporary, Black Lion, and Freedom) are currently available.

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hampton-hawes-mn0000558596/biography

 

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Reseña de Scott Yanow

Este set fue el último del pianista Hampton Hawes antes de que comenzara lo que serían cinco años de prisión por cargos de drogas. Había sido arrestado 11 días antes e irónicamente eligió grabar una serie de espirituales (más un blues) mientras esperaba el juicio. No salió a la venta hasta 1987, la música (tocada con el bajista Leroy Vinnegar y el baterista Stan Levey) está llena de emociones intensas, melodías fuertes y un poco más de variedad de la que uno podría esperar. Los tratamientos de Hawes de melodías como "Down By the Riverside", "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen", "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder" y "Joshua Fit De Battle of Jericho" son bastante inquietantes.

 

Biografía del artista por Scott Yanow

Hampton Hawes fue uno de los mejores pianistas de jazz de la década de 1950, un fijo en la escena de Los Ángeles que trajo sus propias interpretaciones al estilo dominante de Bud Powell. A mediados y finales de los años 40, tocó con Sonny Criss, Dexter Gordon y Wardell Gray, entre otros en Central Avenue. Estuvo con la banda de Howard McGhee (1950-1951), tocó con Shorty Rogers y Lighthouse All-Stars, sirvió en el Ejército (1952-1954), y luego dirigió tríos en el área de Los Ángeles, grabando muchos discos para Contemporary. Arrestado por posesión de heroína en 1958, Hawes pasó cinco años en prisión hasta que fue indultado por el presidente Kennedy. Dirigió tríos durante el resto de su vida, usando piano eléctrico (que perturbó a sus fans de toda la vida) durante un período de principios a mediados de los 70, pero regresó al piano acústico antes de morir de un derrame cerebral en 1977. Las memorias de Hampton Hawes, Raise Up Off Me (1974), son francas y memorables, y la mayoría de sus discos (para Xanadu, Prestige, Savoy, Contemporary, Black Lion y Freedom) están disponibles actualmente.

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hampton-hawes-mn0000558596/biography

Track Listings
1. Down By The Riverside
2. Just A Closer Walk With Thee
3. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
4. Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen
5. When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder
6. Go Down Moses
7. Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho
8. Blues N/C

Personnel Stan
Hampton Hawes - piano
Levey - drums
Leroy Vinnegar - bass

Duration: 40:49
Recording Date
November 24, 1958 - November 25, 1958




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