Hampton Hawes: For Real!—Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds Series (Vinyl)
When the latest PR from Craft Recordings hit my inbox earlier in the year announcing the latest releases of its Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds Series, I was impressed with the 12 LP lineup, but two, in particular, caught my eye. I was unfamiliar with both artists, but they had been receiving some exciting press in the last few years. The first was tenor saxophonist Harold Land, a mighty virtuoso who should be spoken about in the same breath as Coltrane, and shame on me for not knowing about him previously, and the second was pianist Hampton Hawes.
You can read my review of Land’s The Fox here.
From Craft: These reissues include sought-after albums from Art Pepper, Shelly Manne & His Men, Harold Land, Hampton Hawes, Howard McGhee, Prince Lasha Quintet, Ben Webster, Helen Humes, and Sonny Rollins. Originally engineered by Roy DuNann and/or Howard Holzer, each LP will boast lacquers cut from the original master tapes (AAA) by the GRAMMY®-winning engineer Bernie Grundman, an audiophile favourite who also happens to be a Contemporary Records alum. All are pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings (QRP) and presented in Stoughton old-style tip-on jackets.
All the info audiophiles expect is in bold above. The record was delivered unscathed, and played flat and silent.
Much like Harold Land, Hawes has been a delightful and instructive discovery. Hampton Barnett Hawes Jr. (1928 – 1977) was a West Coast musician and was self-taught learning much from his pianist mother. By age 18, Hawes was cutting his teeth performing with luminaries such as Dexter Gordon and Art Pepper and a lengthy formative gig featuring Charlie Parker.
What followed was a familiar refrain—army service, early fame for his inspiration and chops, then heroin addiction, a 10-year jail term (he was granted clemency by President Kennedy after serving five years), a comeback, a memoir then a premature death at the age of 48.
Hawes’ influences include a wide variety of jazz pianists including Bud Powell, Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans distilled into his bebop style.
A wonderful promotional signed photograph. Photo credit: RR Auction.
The For Real! sessions took place in 1958 at Contemporary Records Studio in LA. The album was released in 1961.
Track listing
"Hip" (Hampton Hawes)
"Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" (Harry Barris, Ted Koehler, Billy Moll)
"Crazeology" (Benny Harris)
"Numbers Game" (Hawes, Harold Land)
"For Real" (Hawes, Land)
"I Love You" (Cole Porter)
Personnel
Hampton Hawes - piano
Harold Land - tenor saxophone
Scott LaFaro - bass
Frank Butler - drums
I think the Contemporary label is the best in jazz.
It was smart to begin the album with “Hip”, Hawes’ blues-based up-tempo chart and probably the best cut on the record. It also highlights the team, with Land’s driving solos and the very special Scott LaFaro (he receives a lovely dedication on the rear cover after his untimely death in 1961, the year of the LP’s release). It’s also on “Hip” where we hear just how perfect a rhythmic accompanist Frank Butler was—so musical with interesting fills.
All this musicality and tonal variety is caught to perfection by Roy DuNaan and his remastering brother-in-arms, Bernie Grundman. Let’s be honest, we may be here for the music, it’s self-evident with masters such as these, but audiophiles want to know about the recut sound. Equally masterful.
Bernie, Kevin Gray et al, continue to improve their craft—better equipment, experience, etc, and produce musical gem after musical gem. Even if I can find a flawed release, it’s usually in the volume chosen or maybe the original tape has too many problems. But these releases are very rare.
For the recut record, yes, very little centre fill, piano star left speaker, sax, bass, piano, right. Some solo bleed from Land’s tenor makes it just past the inside of the speaker. But not much.
The program chosen is interesting with a mix of ballads and up-tempo numbers. Hawes is smart as he chose great sidemen that serve his material well.
Now to my evaluation of the hitherto unknown to me Hawes. He’s a fine bluesy bebop player, with interesting ideas and a lovely tone. But his influences, Peterson and Evans, he is not. That’s not to say For Real! is not worth purchasing. I think, like me, you’ll find lots to enjoy. Other than Hawes, he has all-world sidemen and Roy and Bernie in his corner. As I type this, Land is blowing a fabulous solo in “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams". Wonderful. And LaFaro and Butler’s driving heady rhythm in “Crazeology” is equally wonderful (man, does Grundman nail Butler’s punches and solo in “Numbers Game”). To hear Hawes at his most interesting, check out his great solo on the title track.
At the time of recording, I believe Hawes was suffering at the height of his addiction. Maybe it affected his overall performance. Who knows?
My research for this review (primarily of fascinating sets and interviews on YouTube) showed me a more interesting artist in the ‘70s—deeper introspection and superb musical ideas (“My Foolish Heart”, almost as good as Bill Evans—almost—and a beautiful “The Shadow of Your Smile”). By this time the drug demons were behind him, he’d met Josie, the supportive girl of his dreams, and as he said after incarceration, to lead a good life, make music and make people happy.
I’d like to thank Jacob Mask of Craft for shipping an advance copy of the album for our readers.
$30.00
Release Date: May 17, 2024
