Hampton Hawes at The Piano

Avid Jazz here presents three classic Hampton Hawes albums plus including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered and low priced double CD. “All Night Sessions Volumes 1, 2 & 3” plus nine tracks from “Hampton Hawes Trio”.
As a group the three albums and sixteen selections comprising “All Night Session” represent a most unusual achievement in the annals of jazz recording. The almost two hours of music were recorded at a single continuous session, in order in which you hear the numbers, and without editing of any kind. Playing steadily for several hours is a taxing physical experience at best, but improvising continually for that length of time is an exhausting one, mentally and emotionally. Yet the later selections in “All Night Session” reveal no flagging of vitality, spontaneity, inventiveness…

Hampton Hawes - Northern Windows (1974) {2014 Japan Rare Groove Funk Best Collection 1000}
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© 1974, 2014 Prestige / Concord / Universal Music Japan | UCCO-90359
Jazz / Jazz Funk / Hard Bop / Piano

One of the best David Axelrod-assisted albums from the early 70s – a sweet batch of funky cuts with arrangements and backings handled by Axe, and loads of great keyboard lines from the legendary Hampton Hawes! The record really bubbles with the warm and soulful approach Axelrod was using at Fantasy – kind of a step off his stark modern sound at Capitol, but still done with just the right amount of space and appreciation of a funky rhythm. The great Carol Kaye is on bass, and Hawes plays some totally sweeeeeeeet electric keys on the set – really stretching out in ways that are different than some of his acoustic work of a few years before – yet still filled with the same rich sort of imagination. Titles include "Sierra Morena", "Go Down Moses", "Web", "Tune Axle Grease", and "C&H Sugar".

Hampton Hawes Quartet - All Night Session, Vols. 1-3 (1956) {2CD Set Japan Victor Mini LP 20-bit K2, VICJ-60782~3 rel 2001}
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© 1956, 2001 Contemporary Records / Victor Japan | VICJ-60782~3
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Piano

A Japanese reissue of this terrific session which was originally released on three LPs. It's beautifully remastered in 20-bit K2 super coding and contains one track not on any of the original LPs. Originally issued on three LPs, the music resulting from Hampton Hawes' All Night Session! was stereophonically recorded for the Contemporary label in Los Angeles on the night of November 12 and into the morning of November 13, 1956. This session transcended the conventions of studio production by moving steadily from one tune to the next like a live gig with no alternate takes.

This decently recorded live session features tenor saxophonist Wardell Gray, trumpeter Art Farmer, pianist Hampton Hawes, bassist Joe Mondragon and drummer Shelly Manne stretching out on eight numbers (most of which clock in at 7-10 minutes). Originally a Xanadu LP, the CD reissue adds "Lady Bird" to the original set, which is highlighted by "The Squirrel," "Jackie," "Donna Lee" and "Get Happy." Because of his consistency and truncated life, every Wardell Gray recording is well worth picking up. Jointly sold with the February 2019 issue of the Italian "Musica Jazz" magazine.

Hampton Hawes - The Green Leaves Of Summer (1964) {Contemporary OJCCD-476-2 rel 1990}
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© 1964, 1990 Contemporary / OJC / Fantasy | OJCCD-476-2 (S-7614)
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Piano

Pianist Hampton Hawes' first recording after serving five years in prison finds Hawes evolving a bit from a Bud Powell-influenced bop pianist to one familiar with more modern trends in jazz. Reissued on CD, this trio date finds Hawes interacting closely with bassist Monk Montgomery and drummer Steve Ellington (making his recording debut). Hawes had lost nothing of his swinging style while in prison, as can be heard on such numbers as "Vierd Blues," "St. Thomas" and "Secret Love," and he was just starting to hint at moving beyond bop. Recommended.

Once one of the most visible and winning jazz vibraphonists of the 1960s, then an R&B bandleader in the 1970s and '80s, Roy Ayers' reputation s now that of one of the prophets of acid jazz, a man decades ahead of his time.

In this magnificent collection presented melodies performed by these masters of jazz piano: Scott Joplin, James P. Johnson, Eubie Blake, Mandy Randolph, Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, Joe Sullivan, Teddy Wilson, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson, Thelonious Monk, Nat King Cole and many, many others …

A wonderful collector's edition of jazz pianists' records in almost all styles from the first ragtimes to modern jazz.

Gene Ammons - At Montreux (1973) {Prestige OJCCD-1023-2 rel 1999}
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© 1973, 1999 Prestige / Fantasy / Universal | OJCCD-1023-2 / 00025218702324
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Saxophone

Ammons, whose studio recordings of the period were somewhat commercial, is heard in excellent form playing a blues and three standards with the backing of a fine rhythm section: Hampton Hawes (who unfortunately sticks to electric piano), electric bassist Bob Cranshaw, drummer Kenny Clarke and Kenneth Nash on congas. Best of all is a 17-minute blues on which Ammons welcomes fellow tenor Dexter Gordon, cornetist Nat Adderley and altoist Cannonball Adderley; the four horns all get to trade off with each other. This is one of the better late-period Gene Ammons records.

Art Farmer - On The Road (1976) {Contemporary OJCCD-478-2 rel 1990}
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© 1976, 1990 Contemporary / Fantasy | OJCCD-478-2
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Hard Bop / Flugelhorn

On the Road features a logical but only one-time collaboration between flügelhornist Art Farmer and altoist Art Pepper. With pianist Hampton Hawes, bassist Ray Brown, and either Steve Ellington or Shelly Manne on drums completing the quintet, the five standards and Hawes' original "Downwind" were certainly in good hands. A special highlight is a duet version of "My Funny Valentine," featuring Farmer and Hawes. Everyone plays up to par on this spirited straight-ahead set.