Hawkins returns home from his five-year stay in Europe. However, this disc's chronicling of his first combo and big-band dates in New York pales in comparison to collections featuring future triumphs from the mid-'40s. Yes, the classic "Body and Soul" is here but, with the majority of the material caught somewhere between swing's last hours and the no man's land paving the way to bebop, things never really take off. This is not to say there aren't any solo fireworks: Hawkins and guests like Benny Carter and trombonist J.C. Higginbotham all find their spots. Unfortunately, it's not enough to make this a must-have collection, an argument made even stronger by the dubious sounding transfers here. Fans looking for post-Europe Hawkins should check out this material on various RCA discs, while definitely looking into the excellent 1943-1948 material through fine titles like Capitol's Hollywood Stampede. ~ Stephen Cook|
Rovi