Bird Song | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1999 | |||
Recorded | January 18, 1956; March 17, 1958 | |||
Studio | Contemporary (Los Angeles) | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 55:22 | |||
Label | Contemporary OJCCD 1035-2 | |||
Producer | Lester Koenig | |||
Hampton Hawes chronology | ||||
|
Bird Song is an album by American jazz pianist Hampton Hawes recorded at sessions in 1956 and 1958 but not released on the Contemporary label until 1999. [1]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Allmusic review by Jim Todd states "It's a mystery why these tracks from 1956 and 1958 went unreleased until 1999. They come from a key creative period in Hawes' career when he was enjoying new levels of commercial and critical acclaim. Regardless, the music has now been done justice in a well-mastered release that will please fans of Hawes and of bop piano in general". [2] On All About Jazz Derek Taylor observed "Hawes’ trio recordings of the 50s are among the finest examples of small ensemble hard bop created on California shores. With these new discoveries not only is his discography bolstered, but listeners are also given another window into his art at a time when it was at its zenith. This disc is valuable document and should be consulted by anyone who appreciates resourceful and resonant piano trio jazz". [4]
While the 1999 release identifies Scott LaFaro and Frank Butler, it has since been determined that these tracks feature the team of Red Mitchell and Chuck Thompson.[ citation needed ] Not surprisingly, some writers took the personnel listing at face value; for example, Doug Ramsey wrote "These trios may not have quite the magnetic cogency of Hawes' working group with Red Mitchell and Chuck Thompson, but there is more than enough brilliance here to satisfy listeners who recognize Hawes as one of the finest of the pianists who grew out of Bud Powell". [5]
Rocco Scott LaFaro was an American jazz double bassist known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio. LaFaro broke new ground on the instrument, developing a countermelodic style of accompaniment rather than playing traditional walking basslines, as well as virtuosity that was practically unmatched by any of his contemporaries. Despite his short career, he remains one of the most influential jazz bassists, and was ranked number 16 on Bass Player magazine's top 100 bass players of all time.
Walter Davis Jr. was an American bebop and hard bop pianist.
St. Elmo Sylvester Hope was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, chiefly in the bebop and hard bop genres. He grew up playing and listening to jazz and classical music with Bud Powell, and both were close friends of another influential pianist, Thelonious Monk.
Harold de Vance Land was an American hard bop and post-bop tenor saxophonist. Land developed his hard bop playing with the Max Roach/Clifford Brown band into a personal, modern style, often rivalling Clifford Brown's instrumental ability with his own inventive and whimsical solos. His tone was strong and emotional, yet hinted at a certain introspective fragility.
Hampton Barnett Hawes Jr. was an American jazz pianist. He was the author of the memoir Raise Up Off Me, which won the Deems-Taylor Award for music writing in 1975.
"What Is This Thing Called Love?" is a 1929 popular song written by Cole Porter, for the musical Wake Up and Dream. It was first performed by Elsie Carlisle in March 1929. The song has become a popular jazz standard and one of Porter's most often played compositions.
Keith Moore "Red" Mitchell was an American jazz double-bassist, composer, lyricist, and poet.
Larance Norman Marable was a jazz drummer from Los Angeles, California.
Carl Perkins was an American jazz pianist.
"Yardbird Suite" is a bebop standard composed by jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker in 1946. The title combines Parker's nickname "Yardbird" and a colloquial use of the classical music term "suite". The composition uses an 32-bar AABA form. The "graceful, hip melody, became something of an anthem for beboppers."
Frank Butler was an American jazz drummer.
Four! is a 1958 album by Hampton Hawes, originally released on the Contemporary label and reissued in 1991 by Original Jazz Classics.
The Newborn Touch is an album by American jazz pianist Phineas Newborn Jr. recorded in 1964 and released on the Contemporary label.
For Real! is an album by American jazz pianist Hampton Hawes recorded in 1958 but not released on the Contemporary label until 1961.
Hampton Hawes Trio is the debut album by pianist Hampton Hawes recorded in 1955 and released on the Contemporary label.
Everybody Likes Hampton Hawes is the third album by pianist Hampton Hawes recorded in 1956 and released on the Contemporary label.
This Is Hampton Hawes is an album by pianist Hampton Hawes recorded at sessions in 1955 and 1956 and released on the Contemporary label.
Live at Okuden is a live double album by avant-garde jazz trio Jungle, featuring alto saxophonist Mat Walerian, pianist Matthew Shipp and drummer Hamid Drake. It was recorded in 2012 at the Okuden Music Concert Series, and was released in 2016 on the Brooklyn-based avant-garde record label ESP-Disk'.
Something in Common is a studio album by American jazz bassist Sam Jones which was released on September 13, 1977 via the Muse label. Later the record with three bonus tracks was re-released on CD in 2000 and as a digital download in 2009.