Night Hawk (With Eddie Lockjaw Davies)

Full performer name: Coleman Hawkins/Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. Personnel: Coleman Hawkins, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor saxophone); Tommy Flanagan (piano); Ron Carter (bass); Gus Johnson (drums). Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on December 30, 1960. Originally released on Swingville (2016). Includes liner notes by Joe Goldberg. Digitally remastered by Phil De Lancie (1989, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California). NIGHT HAWK features Coleman Hawkins with one of his most noted disciples, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. Indeed, Davis derived much of his sound and concept from the great Hawk. Together these two tenor legends embark on a journey through such familiar and diverse tunes as "There is No Greater Love" and "In a Mellow Tone." One might assume that NIGHT HAWK is a classic tenor batter. However, both horn players blow with restraint, concentrating more on making a superlative musical statement than wowing listeners with dashing pyrotechnics. Nevertheless, some healthy sparring is heard on Ellington's old war horse "In a Mellow Tone." On this selection, "Jaws" Davis plays higher and more ferocious but Hawkins wins on ideas. Other tunes such as the title cut, "Night Hawk," and Ken McIntyre's "Pedalin'" see the two saxophonists in a more bluesy (nearly hard bop) context. Finally, Tommy Flanagan's keen piano accompaniment supports and unifies the whole album. A compelling release, NIGHT HAWK is every tenor player's dream.