HAMPTON HAWES
Four! Hampton Hawes!!!! (Original Jazz Classics)
Reviewed by Ron Saranich

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Recorded early in 1958, the year he received a ten year prison sentence for heroin possession, Four! Hampton Hawes!!!! was a wonderful bebop session by Hampton Hawes, the excellent Los Angeles pianist. Though Los Angeles was considered the center of "cool" jazz, this particular session was pure, sizzling bebop at its finest. Hawes, who modeled his piano style after the great Bud Powell, used members in his rhythm section he had played with in the past - Red Mitchell on bass and Shelly Manne on drums. However, the addition of the eclectic and flexible Barney Kessel on guitar added a fullness and intensity that generated considerable excitement.

Hawes, steeply grounded in the blues, gave each song a personal touch that was both emotional and swinging. I love the way the four musicians collaborated together; the interplay between the artists was superb. They obviously enjoyed recording this session.

I originally listened to this cd on a day when I had a considerably lengthy list of household chores to accomplish, hoping some good background music would make the mundane routine easier to bear. The first song, a wonderful version of Charlie Parker's "Yardbird Suite," began playing and before I realized it, I was hooked, tapping along to Mitchell and Manne's beat and captivated by Hawes and Kessel's solo work. By the second number, a smoking version of "There Will Never Be Another You," those household chores were long forgotten, unlike this cd. It's a worthy addition to any jazz library.

© 2001 - Ron Saranich