Pee Wee Russell / Coleman Hawkins - Jazz Reunion - 180g Vinyl LP

180-gram vinyl. Tip-on jacket

Remastered by Bernie Grundma

This superb recording features a reunion of two of jazz's finest — tenor-saxophonist Coleman Hawkins and clarinetist Pee Wee Russell. At the time of this session, the two had not been on a recording date together in 32 years. Here they revisit "If Could Be With You One Hour," a song they first recorded in a classic version back in 1929.

Pee Wee Russell, though often mistakenly associated only with Dixieland jazz, defied classification. His unorthodox playing and highly individualistic and spontaneous clarinet style pushed boundaries.

Coleman Hawkins is almost unanimously considered to be one of the first prominent saxophonists of jazz. While he came up with swing during the big band era, he had a crucial role in the development of bebop in the 1940s. And by the 1960s' he was considered a jazz patriarch.

Here Hawkins and Russell, two unique and distinct legends, and at the time of this recording already elder statesman of jazz, stretch out on two Duke Ellington tunes, two originals by Russell, and the standard "Tin Tin Deo."

Produced by Candid Records A&R man and founder Nat Hentoff at the Nola Penthouse Studios in New York City in 1961 and released that same year.

The LP includes extraordinary liner notes written by Hentoff, giving a context and insight that adds to the experience of hearing these magnificent performances.