Coleman Hawkins • At Ease

 

In this crazy run-around world where we never really have time to stop and appreciate all the good things in our lives, it is pretty hard to make time for Coleman Hawkins. But that is precisely why it is so important to do so. They really never invented a saxophone player better than him, and very few musicians have ever gotten closer to what jazz is supposed to be.

At Ease with Coleman Hawkins, originally released in 1960, is like a 42-minute journey into Zen simplicity, with a touch of sexy swagger on the side. Many people today have forgotten just how good the Bean was at this stage of his career. But just because none of the work here is as revolutionary as his work in the 1920s, '30s or '40s doesn't mean these songs aren't full of beauty and invention. His work here on "Then I'll Be Tired of You" starts off kind of sleepy, all loopy Dean Martin phrases, and then gets slightly more beboppy as things go on, until he sounds like Sonny Rollins or someone like that. (Funny quotation work in this solo too!) And there's no mistaking his majesty on the ancient chestnut "At Dawning" or his predatory stroll through the just-as-ancient "Poor Butterfly."

But At Ease is not just all pretty notes and assurance. Hawkins was smart to have bopper Tommy Flanagan as his pianist here—you can hear the two push each other on the opener, "For You, For Me, Forevermore," generations teaching each other how to cook. Flanagan's beautiful intro on "Mighty Like a Rose" ends up presaging his pretty solo two minutes later. And the rhythm section stars throughout. Osie Johnson's drumming is always amazing, but Wendell Marshall deserves special marks for his bass line at the start of "I'll Get By."

This recording isn't fiery or out there, but it's about as solid as one can be, and it proves (for about the millionth time) the mastery of Coleman Hawkins. So what's not to love?
By MATT CIBULA
December 14, 2006
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/at-ease-with-coleman-hawkins-coleman-hawkins-prestige-records-review-by-matt-cibula.php

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En este mundo tan loco en el que nunca tenemos tiempo para detenernos y apreciar todas las cosas buenas de nuestra vida, es bastante difícil sacar tiempo para Coleman Hawkins. Pero precisamente por eso es tan importante hacerlo. Realmente nunca se ha inventado un saxofonista mejor que él, y muy pocos músicos se han acercado a lo que debe ser el jazz.

At Ease with Coleman Hawkins, publicado originalmente en 1960, es como un viaje de 42 minutos a la simplicidad zen, con un toque de fanfarronería sexy al margen. Mucha gente ha olvidado lo bueno que era Bean en esta etapa de su carrera. Pero el hecho de que ninguna de sus obras sea tan revolucionaria como su trabajo en los años 20, 30 o 40 no significa que estas canciones no estén llenas de belleza e invención. Su trabajo aquí en "Then I'll Be Tired of You" comienza de forma somnolienta, con frases de Dean Martin, y luego se vuelve un poco más beboppy a medida que avanza, hasta que suena como Sonny Rollins o alguien así. Y no hay que confundir su majestuosidad en la antigua castaña "At Dawning" o su paseo depredador por la también antigua "Poor Butterfly".

Pero At Ease no es sólo notas bonitas y seguridad. Hawkins ha sido muy inteligente al contar con el pianista Tommy Flanagan como pianista; se puede escuchar a los dos empujándose mutuamente en la primera canción, "For You, For Me, Forevermore", generaciones que se enseñan mutuamente a cocinar. La hermosa introducción de Flanagan en "Mighty Like a Rose" acaba presagiando su bonito solo dos minutos después. Y la sección rítmica es protagonista en todo momento. La batería de Osie Johnson es siempre increíble, pero Wendell Marshall merece una puntuación especial por su línea de bajo al comienzo de "I'll Get By".

Esta grabación no es ardiente ni exagerada, pero es todo lo sólida que puede ser, y demuestra (por millonésima vez) la maestría de Coleman Hawkins. ¿Qué es lo que no te gusta?
Por MATT CIBULA
14 de diciembre de 2006
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/at-ease-with-coleman-hawkins-coleman-hawkins-prestige-records-review-by-matt-cibula.php

Tracks:
01. For You, For Me, Forevermore [0:06:10]
02. While We're Young [0:03:34]
03. Then I'll Be TIred Of You [0:05:10]
04. Mighty Like A Rose [0:04:03]
05. At Dawning [0:04:41]
06. Trouble Is A Man [0:05:28]
07. Poor Butterfly [0:06:07]
08. I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You) [0:06:38]


Credits:
Coleman Hawkins, tenor saxophone
Tommy Flanagan, piano
Wendel Marshall, bass
Osie Johnson, drums


Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ; January 29, 1960


Label: Prestige ‎– PRCD-30081-2, Moodsville ‎– PRCD-30081-2
Series: RVG Remasters –
Released: 2006
Genre: Jazz
Style: Post Bop, Swing

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