Hampton Hawes - For Real! (Remastered 2024) 1958

Исполнитель: Hampton Hawes
Альбом: For Real!
Жанр: Jazz
Год: (2024) 1958
Страна: USA (Los Angeles, California)
Лейбл: Craft Recordings
Формат: FLAC (tracks)
Official DR value: DR15
Разрядность: 24bit / 192kHz Stereo
Размер: 1,8 GB
Инфо: wiki
Залито на: XFile (3% восстановление)

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Recorded in 1958—just months before the drug arrest that would send him to prison for five years—but not released until 1961, Hampton Hawes' For Real! is just one of the many excellent records the pianist made for Contemporary Records when he was in his prime. While his entire discography for the label provides voluminous evidence for Hawes' reputation as one of the genre's most influential players, For Real! is nonetheless a somewhat unique entry. This quartet album marks the only time that Hawes and tenor saxophonist and Contemporary labelmate Harold Land recorded together (Scott La Faro is on bass and Frank Butler is on drums), and it is a superb match. Hawes' clear phrasing and Land's rich tenor are very complementary stylistically, but also quite distinct, making For Real! an exciting and memorable listen.

In addition to their well-matched playing styles, the two also work great together from a compositional standpoint, co-writing two of the three original numbers. This includes the title track, which kicks off with a gritty blues walk by LaFaro and Butler, and provides a great example of the album’s smooth confidence and democratic approach. Land shines on the swinging "Numbers Game," trading licks with Hawes, who certainly dazzles with his speedy, note-heavy runs, but also willingly cedes the spotlight to the other members of the quartet. Ironically, the one number where Hawes pushes his piano most forcefully into the spotlight is the driving bebop classic "Crazeology"—immortalized years before by Charlie Parker. A cut so closely associated with one of the genre's preeminent horn players would seem an obvious choice to throw to Land, but Hawes—who was also good friends with Parker—absolutely dazzles with his harmonic playing.

For Real! isn't all pyrotechnics though, thanks to Hawes' bluesy but mellifluous piano on a lush version of "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" and a bouncy but genteel run through Cole Porter's "I Love You." As usual, Contemporary owner Lester Koenig's engineering approach resulted in a superlative recording with plenty of air and lots of organic energy, and this new remaster is the best this album has sounded in years.

Трэклист:

01. Hip (Remastered 2024)
02. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (Remastered 2024)
03. Crazeology (Little Benny) (Remastered 2024)
04. Numbers Game (Remastered 2024)
05. For Real (Remastered 2024)
06. I Love You (Remastered 2024)

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