1929-1934

By the time these recordings were cut, Hawkins had almost fully come into his own as the first real threat on the tenor saxophone. His work with Fletcher Henderson's band during the '20s had put him center stage, and he was on the brink of a five-year European sojourn by the time the last tracks here came out. The collection starts out with two numbers Hawkins cut with Red McKenzie's Mound City Blue Blowers, including the hot-blowing "Hello Lola!," and proceeds with highlights from a Jack Purvis date from 1930. The nine sides Hawkins recorded with trumpeter Henry "Red" Allen in 1933, though, represent the disc's high point. With a stellar octet featuring clarinetist Russell Procope, bassist John Kirby, and trombonist Dicky Wells, Hawkins and Allen both shine on such highlights as "I've Got to Sing a Torch Song" and "'Ol' Man River." Topped off with some equally fine duet tracks with trumpeter Buck Clayton, this Classics title offers a top-notch view of Hawkins' often overlooked early material. ~ Stephen Cook|