COLEMAN "HAWK" HAWKINS

(November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969)
Wikipedia


Image from http://www.concordmusicgroup.com

Colman Hawkins, or "Hawk" is said to be the first important and influential jazz musician to use the sax. His style was swing and big band but he was also very influencial in the development of bebop. He's played with and recorded with some other great names such as Sonny Rollins, Dizzie Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane.

This is the man with his horn.

BILLIE HOLIDAY

I had to throw this one in the midst of all of this sax appeal. It does belong as you'll see by the musicians playings while the Lady, Billie Holiday sings Fine and Mellow. Included among the musicians are Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster and Gerry Mulligan to name a few. For the list of musicians in this clip check out the original over on YouTube.