Bean Bags

Bean Bags

ASIN: B00000G4SK

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Coleman Hawkins has been called the first truly great saxophonist, in jazz or otherwise. And Milt Jackson, who elected to play for decades in the collective Modern Jazz Quartet rather than pursue a mainly solo career, is certainly the first great vibraphonist in jazz. Jackson learned from pioneer Lionel Hampton but developed a harmonic approach to his instrument that sparkled and resonated as warmly as either tuned drums or a piano. As coleaders of this 1959 session, reissued here in exactly the shape of the original LP, Hawkins and Coleman reveal their elegant immersion in slow tempos and blues structures. They bounce smoldering ideas off each other ("Close Your Eyes") and play to their individual strengths on the two Jackson-penned blues, with Hawkins playing breathy shadows and then leaping registers and Hawkins letting the vibes sing with controlled sustain and all the complex art of slowed bebop. The rest of the band is notable, too: bassist Eddie Jones and MJQ drummer Connie Kay work with young guitarist Kenny Burrell and pianist Tommy Flanagan to merge harmony and rhythm wonderfully. --Andrew Bartlett

Tracks:

Close Your Eyes
Stuffy
Don't Take Your Love From Me
Get Happy
Sandra's Blues
Indian Blues

Amazon.com

Coleman Hawkins has been called the first truly great saxophonist, in jazz or otherwise. And Milt Jackson, who elected to play for decades in the collective Modern Jazz Quartet rather than pursue a mainly solo career, is certainly the first great vibraphonist in jazz. Jackson learned from pioneer Lionel Hampton but developed a harmonic approach to his instrument that sparkled and resonated as warmly as either tuned drums or a piano. As coleaders of this 1959 session, reissued here in exactly the shape of the original LP, Hawkins and Coleman reveal their elegant immersion in slow tempos and blues structures. They bounce smoldering ideas off each other ("Close Your Eyes") and play to their individual strengths on the two Jackson-penned blues, with Hawkins playing breathy shadows and then leaping registers and Hawkins letting the vibes sing with controlled sustain and all the complex art of slowed bebop. The rest of the band is notable, too: bassist Eddie Jones and MJQ drummer Connie Kay work with young guitarist Kenny Burrell and pianist Tommy Flanagan to merge harmony and rhythm wonderfully. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Hawk & Milt: Dynamic duo.......2007-05-08

Away from the MJQ, Milt Jackson often recorded in what could easily be tagged all-star groups, whether teaming up with John Coltrane, Ray Charles, or Wes Montgomery. Here his side kick is the father of the tenor sax himself, Coleman Hawkins, and the results are magnificent. Hawk is in great form, and the performance of everyone on his own STUFFY is terrific. CLOSE YOUR EYES gets a gorgeous ballad treatment, while GET HAPPY is a scorcher. The final two tracks are 12-bar blues, one slow, the other medium-up, and cap off a marvelous outing by two jazz giants - and a great rhythm section headed by pianist Tommy Flanagan and including guitarist Kenny Burrel. Definitely worth looking into.

Clever Title...........2002-10-04

with Bean being Hawkins' nickname as Bags was for Jackson. More importantly that this '59 effort, now on cd, features two legends on their respective instruments and with a supporting cast who may be arguably legends as well.

Fittingly, there are two ballads in the set as both Jackson and Hawkins had romanticism in their souls (who will ever forget Hawkins' recording of "Body and Soul"?). They both romp through the Hawkins' original, "Stuffy", and the standard "Get Happy". The set concludes with two Jackson original blues, one slow with the other a medium tempo, on which everyone gets their chops.

A very listenable and enjoyable set!

They Did It Again!.......2000-01-23

What a listening experience.Bags without a doubt is the "Absolute Truth" on the vibes,and Coleman is right there with him.My favorite jazz album of all time is "Opus De Jazz" by Milt,but this one is righ up there with it.The eloquence of their playing is just great.Especially loved the selection Close Your Eyes.It showcased both their talents to the utmost.Just great.

One of the best M.J. disc........1999-11-15

A Nice Suprising. A must have for all M.J. fans. Both material and Sound is Super - 5 stars. I still think Kind of Blues is the best Jazz CD of all time, but this disc is definitely one of the best Jazz CD I've heard.

1.000 stars.......1999-11-01

with over 1,500 cds in my collection , mostly jazz . this recording by milt and coleman tops the list . passing miles davis bitches brew and kind of blue , beyond my kenny burrells (featured here) and gabor szabos ... past even coletrane and my main man mingus . this record is so smooth , so groovy that i'm gonna have a real hard time even buying any thing else . what would compare ? mor milt i suppose , color me addicted .

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