Erskine Hawkins: Should I go Complete?

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Yakov · #1 Post by **Yakov** » Tue Dec 30, 2003 1:57 pm

I don't have any Erskine Hawkins CDs... there are plenty of "greatest hits" cds, and I can also get his stuff "complete" on Chronological Classics. Is there enough good stuff to justify going complete?

(Erskine Hawkins is a pianist-bandleader most famous for the original "Tuxedo Junction" and the excellent slow blues "After Hours.")

KevinSchaper · #2 Post by **KevinSchaper** » Tue Dec 30, 2003 2:40 pm

Yakov wrote:I don't have any Erskine Hawkins CDs... there are plenty of "greatest hits" cds, and I can also get his stuff "complete" on Chronological Classics. Is there enough good stuff to justify going complete?

(Erskine Hawkins is a pianist-bandleader most famous for the original "Tuxedo Junction" and the excellent slow blues "After Hours.")

I'm like half-complete on him.. I can't decide if it's worth it - I thought I'd dig the later stuff more, when it starts going jump it does get a little weak..

the early chorno-classics are really good, but most of the tunes are a little tough to get excited about when you're scanning through the disc, because they all start super mellow and build over the course of the tune..

(I just checked, I have 38-39, 39-40, 46-47 & a live from '45, and the first two are definitely the best.. and the later 'Club Soul Sound' reunion LP has a killer version of After Hours)

AlekseyKosygin · #3 Post by **AlekseyKosygin** » Tue Dec 30, 2003 2:48 pm

HELL YES

His 38-39 stuff being the absolute best...(The Collectables Double Cd is complete for 38 and 39 and is amazing) I want to eventually go up to 46 real strict like...

Bob the Builder · #4 Post by **Bob the Builder** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:38 pm

Lets talk more about Erskine Hawkins,

I tend to think he is one of the greats that we tend to forget about.
He was one of the longest resident house bands at the Savoy.

I have much of the Classic Label CD of him but still have one or two gaps.

This is what All music say about him.

Biography by Scott Yanow
A talented high-note trumpeter and a popular bandleader, Erskine Hawkins was nicknamed "the 20th Century Gabriel." He learned drums and trombone before switching to trumpet when he was 13. While attending the Alabama State Teachers College, he became the leader of the college band, the 'Bama Street Collegians. They went to New York in 1934, became the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra, started making records in 1936, and by 1938 were quite successful. With Hawkins and Dud Bascomb sharing the trumpet solos, Paul Bascomb or Julian Dash heard on tenors, Haywood Henry on baritone, and pianist Avery Parrish, this was a solidly swinging band that delighted dancers and jazz fans alike. Hawkins had three major hits ("Tuxedo Junction," "After Hours," and "Tippin' In") and was able to keep the big band together all the way until 1953; some of their later sessions were more R&B-oriented yet never without jazz interest. Hawkins led a smaller unit during his last few decades (the survivors of the big band had a recorded reunion in 1971) and the trumpeter kept on working into the 1980s.

Other than the "Blueroom" Night club recording in 1945 and some Jubilee recordings there doesn't seem to be much live Erskine Hawkins on CD. Which is a pitty. I'd love to know if there is anything else on Vinyl.

So has a Hawkins got you excited of late?

Brian

trev · #5 Post by **trev** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:48 pm

Yes I was just thinking that I need more Erskine - I keep finding good material from him! My lastest fave is "A Swingy Little Rhythm" which interestingly i think is basically the same track as "Callin Your Bluff" by MBRB, though I will need to check.

Matt · #6 Post by **Matt** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 8:47 pm

I have a CD called "Stompin' at the Savoy", featuring live broadcasts from the Savoy in 1940 of Erksine and Coleman Hawkins.

Bob the Builder · #7 Post by **Bob the Builder** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:14 pm

That sounds interesting.

What label is that on?

Brian

Eyeball · #8 Post by **Eyeball** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:06 pm

Erskine Hawkins is a trumpet player, not a pianist.

Over the years, Erskine Hawkins was not well represented on vinyl.

His recordings with his 'Bama State Collegians - some were issued on an import LP from Sweden, IIRC. No American issue from Columbia did I ever see.

He had one LP in print on RCA for years that had all his hits on it. I think it was called, AFTER HOURS. The sound quality was a little tubby, IIRC.

I can't recall any other RCA LP issues by him. Nothing on the Victor Vintage series or the Bluebird series.

I don't know what he was doing in the 1950s and 60s.

I saw one rather late LP he had done on some indie label at the time he was leading bands of cruise ships in the 70s. It was ok, but I didn't keep it.

So many neglected bands out there.

russell · #9 Post by **russell** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:55 am

The "Stompin At The Savoy" live broadcasts are on the Swedish label Tax put out by Ancha Trading AB. The Erskine Hawkins were from broadcast on March 4, 1940 and the Coleman Hawkins Orchestra from August 25 1940.
I picked up a copy in Paris this year.
Interesting mix of material from Erskine. Some sweet, some slow vocal and only one hot dance trac - Gabriel meets the Duke. Starts off down, but builds in intensity through the song.

zzzzoom · #10 Post by **zzzzoom** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:59 am

Bob the Builder wrote:So has a Hawkins got you excited of late?

Bicycle Bounce - Tippin In
Uncle Bud - Tippin In

Two new favorites right now . . .

Bob the Builder · #11 Post by **Bob the Builder** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:35 am

russell wrote:The "Stompin At The Savoy" live broadcasts are on the Swedish label Tax put out by Ancha Trading AB. The Erskine Hawkins were from broadcast on March 4, 1940 and the Coleman Hawkins Orchestra from August 25 1940.
I picked up a copy in Paris this year.
Interesting mix of material from Erskine. Some sweet, some slow vocal and only one hot dance trac - Gabriel meets the Duke. Starts off down, but builds in intensity through the song.

Ahh, yes the Tax label.
Not a bad label at all. Thanks Russell.

His recordings with his 'Bama State Collegians - some were issued on an import LP from Sweden, IIRC. No American issue from Columbia did I ever see.

He had one LP in print on RCA for years that had all his hits on it. I think it was called, AFTER HOURS. The sound quality was a little tubby, IIRC.

I can't recall any other RCA LP issues by him. Nothing on the Victor Vintage series or the Bluebird series.

I don't know what he was doing in the 1950s and 60s.

I saw one rather late LP he had done on some indie label at the time he was leading bands of cruise ships in the 70s. It was ok, but I didn't keep it.

So many neglected bands out there.

Thanks Eyeball.

Bob the Builder · #12 Post by **Bob the Builder** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:49 am

These are some of his tracks I find interesting that I have.

Swinging In Harlem World Of Swing 1936
Satan Does The Rhumba 1939-40 Erskine Hawkins 02/10/39 Bluebird NY
Uptown Shuffle 1939-40 Erskine Hawkins 02/10/39 Bluebird NY
Baltimore Bounce 1939-40 Erskine Hawkins 20/12/39 Bluebird NY
Fine And Mellow 1939-40 Erskine Hawkins 20/12/39 Bluebird NY
Saboo 1939-40 Erskine Hawkins 20/12/39 Bluebird NY
Tuxido Junction Swing! The Ultimate Big Band Album 1939
Gabriel Meets The Duke 1939-40 Erskine Hawkins 27/02/40 Bluebird NY
Midnight Stroll 1939-40 Erskine Hawkins 26/04/40 Bluebird NY
Sweet Georgia Brown 1939-40 Erskine Hawkins 10/06/40 Bluebird NY
Five O'Clock Whistle 1939-40 Erskine Hawkins 10/06/40 Bluebird NY
Norfolk Ferry 1939-40 Erskine Hawkins 06/11/40 Bluebird NY
Soft Winds 1940 - 41 Erskine Hawkins 11/06/40 Bluebird NY
Riff Time 1940 - 41 Erskine Hawkins 20/11/40 Bluebird NY
Keep Cool Fool 1940 - 41 Erskine Hawkins 22/01/41 Bluebird NY
No Use Squawkin' 1940 - 41 Erskine Hawkins 22/01/41 Bluebird NY
Uncle Bud 1940 - 41 Erskine Hawkins 15/05/41 Bluebird NY
Blackout 1940 - 41 Erskine Hawkins 15/05/41 Bluebird NY
Shipyard Ramble 1940 - 41 Erskine Hawkins 15/05/41 Bluebird NY
Hey Doc! 1940 - 41 Erskine Hawkins 08/08/41 Bluebird NY
Bear Mash Blues 1941 - 45 Erskine Hawkins 29/06/42 Bluebird NY
Knock Me A Kiss 1941 - 45 Erskine Hawkins 29/06/42 Bluebird NY
Taint No Good 1941 - 45 Erskine Hawkins 29/06/42 Bluebird NY
Bicycle Bounce Swinging At The Savoy: The Home Of Happy Feet! 1937-45, Jazz Archives #6 (158442) 27/05/42 Bluebird NY
Shower Big Band Jazz The Jubilee Sessions November 1944 Hollywood, show 109 - Live
The Bear Mash Blues Big Band Jazz The Jubilee Sessions November 1944 Hollywood, show 109 - Live
After Hours Big Band Jazz The Jubilee Sessions November 1944 Hollywood, show 109 - Live
Tippin In 1941 - 45 Erskine Hawkins 10/01/45 Victor NY
Caldonia 1941 - 45 Erskine Hawkins 28/03/45 Victor NY
Drifting Along 1941 - 45 Erskine Hawkins 28/03/45 Victor NY
Holiday For Swing 1941 - 45 Erskine Hawkins 21/11/45 Victor NY
Let'S Have Fun Tonight 1941 - 45 Erskine Hawkins 21/11/45 Victor NY
It's Full Or It Ain't No Good 1946-47 Erskine Hawkins 09/05/46 Victor
Coast To Coast 1946-47 Erskine Hawkins 30/04/47 Victor
Wiggle Worm 1946-47 Erskine Hawkins 26/08/47 Victor
Big Fat Sam 1946-47 Erskine Hawkins 20/12/47 Victor

As you can see there is a big gap a from 1936-38

I decided I needed to get link

The Complete: 1938-1939

Brian

#13 Post by **JesseMiner** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:04 am

I've got a great quality really swingin' live CD called Holiday For Swing. The tracks are from three dates in the mid-1940s in New York City (one of the dates is at the Savoy Ballroom). The CD opens with a sweet 6 minute "Tuxedo Junction". Shim Sham anyone?

I'm waiting for Kevin Schaper to chime in about the "interesting" Live At Club Soul Sound.

Jesse

Haydn · #14 Post by **Haydn** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:13 pm

JesseMiner wrote:I've got a great quality really swingin' live CD called Holiday For Swing.The CD opens with a sweet 6 minute "Tuxedo Junction".

Not a patch on the studio version though

Some of my favourites (apart from Tuxedo Junction), are:

Swing Out
Nona
Gin Mill Special

As Kevin Schaper commented earlier, a lot of these numbers don't really grab you at the start. But many have great riffs and rhythmic syncopation. It's frustrating that the sound quality is pretty poor on a lot of recordings.

Eyeball · #15 Post by **Eyeball** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:03 pm

My fave EH title is "Gabriel's Heater" only b/c it has several plays on words in it.

EH is one of many bands of that era who turned out a uniformly good quality of work and it is up to YOU to dig thru them all to find the gems.

One of the longest and most grueling 78 rpm trades I ever made was to get a copy of "Hot Platter" by EH on Bluebird.

Trade went on for an hour for a relatively common record.

SwingDJs

Erskine Hawkins: Should I go Complete?

Erskine Hawkins: Should I go Complete?

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