Coleman Hawkins - The Hawk Flies High

Amazing. Thirty years after the venerable tenor saxophonist rose to stardom in Fletcher Henderson's big band, Coleman Hawkins revitalized his career with The Hawk Flies High. This Riverside date from March 1957 reasserted Hawkins' stature as a true and enduring jazz icon. Personally selecting his own ensemble, including trombonist J.J. Johnson, trumpeter Idrees Sulieman, pianist Hank Jones, guitarist Barry Galbraith, bassist Oscar Pettiford and drummer Jo Jones. The group swings and bops their way through six great tunes, including the lengthy "Juicy Fruit," Gigi Gryce's "Blue Lights" and Hawkins' own soul-stirring original entitled "Sancticity."