Peter Friedman

I remember long ago watching Hawkins on a PBS station filmed in Chicago not long before he died. He was in very bad condition, and it was somewhat painful to watch him struggling so much. I have little memory of who was in the group, though am guessing Roy Eldridge and Barry Harris.

Just one example below of why my personal favorite period of jazz recordings dates from about 1952 or 53 to about 1964. There are many jazz recordings from both earlier and later dates of which I am highly fond, but that 52-64 time period is my favorite.

Brahms - Symphony No.3

My interest in jazz began roughly in the years 1952-1954. I was living in Detroit which was a hot house for the development of jazz musicians in the Bop and Hard Bop styles. I heard 3 of the musicians on this album - Sonny Red, Paul Chambers and Roy Brooks - prior to any of them making their first recording.

Chopin - Sonata No.3, Bacarolle, Etc.

It does strike me as interesting that (as an example) Cedar Walton had excellent sidemen throughout has very long career. If the issue is/was money, how could Cedar do it, while that was not the case for Sonny Rollins?

Mozart - String Quartet K.421 and K.575