This session is valuable for the majestic playing of tenor great
Coleman Hawkins, who performs on half of the eight tracks. While originally released on the
Prestige subsidiary
Moodsville -- a label that specialized in recordings with an intimate, reflective atmosphere -- the
Moodsville sound doesn't sit comfortably on
Hawkins. His playing is brilliantly relaxed, but it's not
mood music. Leader
Kenny Burrell's playing is much more in line with the
Moodsville groove. The guitarist is not amplified as much as he is on his
Prestige dates from this time. In fact, he performs on a nylon-string instrument almost as much as he does on his hollow-body electric. Unlike
Hawkins,
Burrell's subdued contribution is made to measure for this date. Listeners expecting to hear
Burrell the
hard bopper won't. The key moments come during the interaction between the guitarist and tenor player, especially during their exchanges on
Burrell's
"Montono Blues." The rhythm section,
Hawkins' working band from this period (pianist
Tommy Flanagan, bassist
Major Holley, and drummer
Eddie Locke), provide impeccable, sublime support. The CD is rounded out with an up-tempo performance of the
standard "I Never Knew," from a date led by pianist
Gildo Mahones. This is where
Burrell gets a chance to cook in his classic
hard bop style, along with the fine alto player
Leo Wright. ~ Jim Todd
