Coleman Hawkins With Pee Wee Russell “Jam Session In Swingville”

Coleman Hawkins With Pee Wee Russell

“Jam Session In Swingville”
( LP Prestige Records, 1961 )
Catalog # P 24051

Personnel & Tracklisting:
Joe Newman (tp)
J.C. Higginbotham (tb)
Jimmy Hamilton (cl)
Hilton Jefferson (as)
Coleman Hawkins (ts)
Claude Hopkins (p)
Tiny Grimes (g)
Wendell Marshall (b)
Billy English (d)
Rudy Van Gelder Studio,
Englewood Cliffs, NJ, April 14, 1961

2977 Jammin’ In Swingville
2978 Spring’s Swing
2979 Love Me Or Leave Me
2980 Cool Sunrise

Joe Thomas (tp -1,2,4/7)
Vic Dickenson (tb -1,2,4/7)
Pee Wee Russell (cl -1,2,4/7)
Al Sears, Buddy Tate (ts -1,2,4/7)
Cliff Jackson (p)
Danny Barker (g -1,2,4/7)
Joe Benjamin (b)
J.C. Heard (d)
Rudy Van Gelder Studio,
Englewood Cliffs, NJ, May 19, 1961

1. 3037 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be
2. 3038 So Glad
3. 3039 I Want To Be Happy
4. 3040 I May Be Wrong
5. 3041 Phoenix
6. 3042 Years Ago
7. 3043 Vic’s Spot

** Also issued on Prestige PRCD 24051-2
** Same contents as Swingville SVLP 2024 + SVLP 2025

Review:
This single record has all of the music reissued in the mid-’70s on a two-LP set. Although sometimes issued under the names of Coleman Hawkins and Pee Wee Russell, the two great jazzmen actually do not appear together. The music, which is performed by two all-star groups with arrangements by either Jimmy Hamilton or Al Sears, is generally modern swing. Hawkins’ band is comprised of trumpeter Joe Newman, trombonist J.C. Higginbottham, clarinetist Hamilton, altoist Hilton Jefferson and a four-piece rhythm section. Pianist Cliff Jackson plays “I Want to Be Happy,” and clarinetist Russell’s outfit also features trumpeter Joe Thomas, trombonist Vic Dickenson and both Al Sears and Buddy Tate on tenors. Nothing all that memorable or innovative occurs, but the performances are enjoyable.
By Scott Yanow (AMG)

By Rob