Coleman Hawkins’ classic album, *Coleman Hawkins And Confrères*, is getting a reissue on October 24 through Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series. You can pre-order it now.
Hawkins’ tenor saxophone shines with confidence and eloquence throughout the album. He is joined by the Oscar Peterson Trio, along with special guests like Hank Jones on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar, and trumpeters Roy Eldridge and Buck Clayton. The album was recorded over two sessions on October 16, 1957, and February 7, 1958.
The tracklist features both original pieces by Hawkins and some well-known covers. Standout tracks include “Cocktails for Two,” the standard “Sunday,” and Hawkins’ own “Honey Flower.” This album came during a highly productive time for Hawkins. On October 16, 1957, he not only recorded the first track for *Confrères*, called “Maria,” but also worked on two other albums for Verve: *The Genius Of Coleman Hawkins* and *Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster*.
That day was a remarkable studio session. Hawkins, at 52, collaborated with Oscar Peterson’s trio and recorded twelve songs for *The Genius Of Coleman Hawkins*. He saved one track for *Coleman Hawkins And Confrères*. Later that evening, he teamed up with Ben Webster, resulting in *Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster*, which features all standards but showcases their unique style.
Hawkins’ creativity is evident in *Coleman Hawkins And Confrères*, making this reissue long overdue. As Miles Davis once said, “When I heard Hawk, I learned to play ballads.” You can hear why on this album. Check out the Verve Acoustic Sounds Series on vinyl now!
