Too Marvelous for Words

Coleman Hawkins

Coleman Randolph Hawkins, nicknamed Hawk and sometimes "Bean" (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He was one of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument. As Joachim E. Berendt explained, "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn". While Hawkins is most strongly associated with the swing music and big band era, he had a role in the development of bebop in the 1940s. more »