Coleman Hawkins • The Hawk Relaxes

 

Review by Michael G. Nastos
It is said that one grows wiser and mellower with age, as proven by this recording from Coleman Hawkins that is a successful follow-up to his previous Moodsville album At Ease. There is a difference, as Kenny Burrell joins the legendary tenor saxophonist in this quintet setting, with no threat of upstaging or even a hint of any real showcasing of the guitarist's then developing laid-back side. Underrated Ronnell Bright is on the piano, and also proves a veritable equal to Hawkins even more than Burrell. But it is the burgeoning talent of bassist Ron Carter and drummer Andrew Cyrille who mark their territory, not as the maverick individualists they would become, but as supple performers who understand the strength of Hawkins from a modest standpoint. Not all ballads, the fare is standard American popular song played for people sitting by the fire, the calm ocean, or late at night with a sweetheart over candles and wine. Any version of a well-known tune can be made classic by Hawkins, as heard during the somber "I'll Never Be The Same," the straight ballad "Under a Blanket of Blue" with the tenor's slight fluttery trills, or "Just a Gigolo" where the spotlight is firmly focused on the leader's droll tones. Burrell's strumming on "When Day Is Done" signifies a downplayed, wound down feeling, and where he generally chooses a sublimated role in these recordings, he does come out with a strong lead melody for the soulful ballad "More Than You Know." The modified tunes on the session are the midtempo take of "Moonglow" as Hawkins adopts some of Lester Young's swagger as Cyrille's nimble brushwork keeps the song moving forward. "Speak Low" is interpreted in a sleek and seductive calypso beat ably conjured by the drummer, a nice touch to end the album. This quintet -- as unique as any Hawkins ever fronted -- speaks to his open mindedness, but more so to his innate ability in adapting musicians to his situational hitting. The Hawk Relaxes is one of his best latter period efforts. 
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-hawk-relaxes-mw0000276235

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Reseña de Michael G. Nastos
Se dice que uno se vuelve más sabio y meloso con la edad, como lo demuestra esta grabación de Coleman Hawkins que es una continuación exitosa de su álbum anterior de Moodsville, At Ease. Hay una diferencia, ya que Kenny Burrell se une al legendario saxofonista tenor en este escenario de quinteto, sin amenaza de eclipsar o incluso un indicio de una exhibición real del lado relajado en desarrollo del guitarrista. El subestimado Ronnell Bright está al piano, y también demuestra ser un verdadero igual a Hawkins incluso más que Burrell. Pero es el talento floreciente del bajista Ron Carter y el baterista Andrew Cyrille quienes marcan su territorio, no como los individualistas inconformistas en los que se convertirían, sino como intérpretes flexibles que entienden la fuerza de Hawkins desde un punto de vista modesto. No todas las baladas, la tarifa es una canción popular estadounidense estándar interpretada para personas sentadas junto al fuego, el océano en calma o tarde en la noche con un amor con velas y vino. Hawkins puede convertir en clásica cualquier versión de una melodía conocida, como se escucha durante la sombría "I'll Never Be The Same", la balada directa "Under a Blanket of Blue" con los ligeros trinos ondulantes del tenor, o" Just a Gigolo", donde el centro de atención está firmemente centrado en los divertidos tonos del líder. El rasgueo de Burrell en "When Day Is Done" significa un sentimiento minimizado y relajado, y donde generalmente elige un papel sublimado en estas grabaciones, sale con una fuerte melodía principal para la balada conmovedora " More Than You Know."Las melodías modificadas en la sesión son la toma de medio tiempo de "Moonglow", ya que Hawkins adopta algo de la arrogancia de Lester Young mientras la ágil pincelada de Cyrille mantiene la canción avanzando. "Speak Low" se interpreta en un ritmo de calipso elegante y seductor hábilmente conjurado por el baterista, un toque agradable para terminar el álbum. Este quinteto, tan único como cualquiera que Hawkins haya liderado, habla de su mentalidad abierta, pero más aún de su habilidad innata para adaptar a los músicos a su golpe situacional. El Halcón se Relaja es uno de sus mejores esfuerzos de último período. 
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-hawk-relaxes-mw0000276235

Tracks:
01 - I'll Never Be The Same
02 - When Day Is Done
03 - Under A Blanket Of Blue
04 - More Than You Know
05 - Moonglow
06 - Just A Gigolo
07 - Speak Low


Credits:
    Bass – Ron Carter
    Design [Cover Design], Photography – Don Schlitten
    Drums – Andrew Cyrille
    Guitar – Kenny Burrell
    Liner Notes – Joe Goldberg
    Piano – Ronnell Bright
    Recorded By, Remastered By, Liner Notes – Rudy Van Gelder
    Reissue Producer – Bob Porter, Nick Phillips (2)
    Reissue Producer [Reissue Production Assistance] – Stuart Kremsky
    Supervised By – Esmond Edwards
    Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins

Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ; February 28, 1961.

Label:    Moodsville – MV 15, Prestige – MV 15
Country:    US
Released:    1961
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Bop, Hard Bop
https://www.discogs.com/release/5469105-Coleman-Hawkins-The-Hawk-Relaxes

 

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