This re-visiting of Hampton Hawes’ 1961 record, For Real!, comes four days after what would’ve been his 95th birthday. One of the most influential pianists of his time, the self-taught prodigy was named “New Star of the Year” by DownBeat magazine. Hawes shines bright in familiar territory: whether it’s his exquisite harmonic locked-hands style on the boppin’ “Crazeology,” recorded well after his friend Charlie Parker brought it to fame, or his lively, flittering rendition of the much-covered Cole Porter ballad “I Love You.” Here, he’s backed by Clifford Brown/Max Roach saxophonist Harold Land and Scott LaFaro, the gone-too-soon double bassist famous for his work with the Bill Evans Trio.

Hampton Hawes, For Real! was recorded in 1958 but not released on the Contemporary Records label until 1961. Featuring Hawes (piano) alongside Harold Land (tenor sax), Scott LaFaro (bass) and Frank Butler (drums) the album includes a mixture of both jazz standards and originals. This new edition, released as part of the Acoustic Sounds Series, features (AAA) lacquers cut from the original master tapes by Bernie Grundman and is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at QRP, and presented in a tip-on jacket.