1946-1947

by Erskine Hawkins

Overview

Although by 1946 Erskine Hawkins no longer had any hit records in the future (1945's Tippin' In was his last one), his orchestra was still one of the best in jazz. Most of the 22 selections on this 1998 CD (the sixth in Classics' complete Hawkins series) are obscure but quite worthwhile. There are vocals on 13 of the songs (four by Jimmy Mitchelle, one from Ruth Christian, Ace Harris sounding spirited on "Well Natch," and seven easy-to-take vocals by Laura Washington) but it is the nine instrumentals that take honors. Although there are hints of bebop in the later records from 1947, most of the music on this CD is still very much in the swing vein. Taken as a whole, there is ample evidence here for the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra to be rated as one of the finest (and most underrated) big bands of the 1946-47 period. The key soloists in the orchestra are Hawkins and Sammy Lowe on trumpets, Matthew Gee on trombone, altoist Bobby Smith, Julian Dash on tenor, and baritonist Haywood Henry who is often heard on clarinet. Highlights include "Sneakin' Out," "Feelin' Low," "Needle Points," and "Lazy Blues." Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	11/03/1998
Label:	Classics
UPC:	3307517100825
Rank:	159857

Tracks

1. Sneakin' Out
2. Don't Say You're Sorry Again
3. That Wonderful Worrisome Feeling
4. I've Got a Right to Cry
5. It's Full or It Ain't No Good
6. Well Natch!
7. Feelin' Low
8. Hawk's Boogie
9. Sammy's Nightmare
10. Somebody Loves Me
11. I Had a Good Cry
12. My Baby Didn't Even Say Goodbye
13. Coast to Coast
14. Ain't I Losin' You
15. Fool That I Am
16. Wiggle Worm
17. I'm So Doggone Melancholy
18. Untitled No. 3
19. Needle Points
20. Big Fat Sam
21. Sad Eyes
22. Lazy Blues

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Erskine Hawkins   Primary Artist,Trumpet
Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
David James   Trombone
Reunald Jones   Trumpet
Aaron Maxwell   Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Bernard Flood   Trumpet
Bill Moore   Trumpet
Laura Washington   Vocals
Bobby Johnson, Jr.   Trumpet
Dan Logan   Trombone
Matthew Gee   Trombone
Jimmy Harris   Trumpet
Haywood Henry   Clarinet,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Bobby Smith   Sax (Alto)
Don Cole   Trombone
Leroy Kirkland   Guitar
Julian Dash   Sax (Tenor)
Ace Harris   Piano,Vocals
Robert Range   Trombone
Kelly Martin   Drums
Sam Lowe   Trumpet
Ray Hogan   Trombone
Leemie Stanfield   Bass
Edward Sims   Trombone
Don Michael   Piano
Joe Murphy   Drums
Frank Derrick   Sax (Alto)
Jimmy Phipps   Piano
Charles Jones   Trumpet
Jimmy Mitchelle   Vocals,Sax (Alto)

Technical Credits

George Gershwin   Composer
Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra   Performer
Sammy Lowe   Composer
Buddy DeSylva   Composer
Anatol Schenker   Liner Notes
Harry Tobias   Composer
Bobby Smith   Composer
Wesley Wilson   Composer
Jerry Livingston   Composer
Ace Harris   Composer
Robert Range   Composer
A. Harris   Composer
Ballard MacDonald   Composer
B. Smith   Composer
Irving Berman   Composer
Joe Liggins   Composer
Erskine Hawkins   Composer
Floyd Hunt   Composer