Coleman Hawkins, “The Bebop Years” (Proper, 2001; tracks recorded 1939-49)

Review:
This is an excellent compilation of Hawkins' work between 1939 and 1949. Most of the selections date from 1943 to 1947 and were recorded for several record labels, including Victor, Bluebird, Okeh, Brunswick, V-Disc, Commodore, Signature, Keynote, Apollo, Savoy, Clef, Regis, Capitol, Aladdin, Joe Davis, and Selmer. Sidemen include Roy Eldridge, Benny Carter, Cootie Williams, Count Basie, Art Tatum, Oscar Pettiford, Teddy Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie, Budd Johnson, Ben Webster, Earl Hines, Don Byas, John Kirby, Jonah Jones, Buck Clayton, Thelonious Monk, Howard McGhee, Milt Jackson, Hank Jones, Harry Carney and Miles Davis. As you would expect with such a wide variety of source material, the sound quality varies a bit. However, it ranges from good to excellent and in most cases is on par (or identical:)) with the best previous CD issues of the same music. The set comes with a 56 page booklet that includes a lengthy essay with analysis of each session, several photographs, and a very thorough discography (you can read the complete essay and discography at Proper's website). The essay is good, though it could have used some editing. Also, the photos look like they were duplicated from printed sources. The most important thing, however, is that the music is consistently excellent. These discs show Hawkins at his absolute best, whether in a small group, big band, or solo. For the price the set is an astounding value!

Tracklist:
Disc: 1
1. Body and Soul
2. Dinah
3. When Day Is Done
4. Smack
5. I Surrender, Dear
6. I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me
7. Dedication
8. Rocky Comfort
9. One O'Clock Jump
10. 9-20 Special
11. Feedin' the Bean
12. Esquire Bounce
13. My Ideal
14. Voodte
15. How Deep Is the Ocean?
16. Hawkins Barrel House
17. Stumpy
18. Lover, Come Back to Me
19. Blues Changes
20. Crazy Rhythm
21. Get Happy
22. Man I Love

Disc: 2
1. Sweet Lorraine
2. My Ideal
3. I Only Have Eyes for You
4. 'S Wonderful
5. I'm in the Mood for Love
6. "Bean" at the Met
7. Woody 'N You
8. Bu-Dee-Daht
9. Yesterdays
10. Flame Thrower
11. Imagination
12. Night and Day
13. Cattin' at Keynote
14. Disorder at the Border
15. Feeling Zero
16. Rainbow Mist
17. Blue Moon
18. Father Co-Operates
19. Just One More Chance
20. Through for the Night
21. On the Sunny Side of the Street
22. Three Little Words

Disc: 3
1. Battle of the Saxes
2. Louise
3. Pick-Up Boys
4. Porgy
5. Uptown Lullaby
6. Salt Peanuts
7. Make Believe
8. Don't Blame Me
9. Just One of Those Things
10. Hallelujah
11. Stompin' at the Savoy
12. On the Sunny Side of the Street
13. All the Things You Are
14. Every Man for Himself
15. Look Out Jack!
16. Under a Blanket of Blue
17. El Salon de Gutbucket
18. Undecided
19. Recollections
20. Drifting on a Reed
21. Flyin' Hawk
22. On the Bean
23. Hawk's Variations, Pts. 1 & 2

Disc: 4
1. April in Paris
2. Rifftide
3. Stuffy
4. What Is There to Say?
5. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away)
6. Bean Soup
7. It's the Talk of the Town
8. Say It Isn't So
9. I Can't Get Started
10. Cocktails for Two
11. Sweet Lorraine
12. Nat Meets June
13. How High the Moon
14. Bean-A-Re-Bop
15. Isn't It Romantic?
16. Way You Look Tonight
17. Phantomesque
18. Angel Face
19. Picasso
20. It's Only a Paper Moon
21. Bah-U-Bah